Athletic: 26-year-old who left Man United as a free agent is now in talks with Arsenal over summer 2026 move

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·30 gennaio 2026

Athletic: 26-year-old who left Man United as a free agent is now in talks with Arsenal over summer 2026 move

Ona Batlle is now primed for a return to the Women’s Super League, three years on from her Manchester United departure.

Back in the summer of 2023, the highly-rated full-back pulled the curtains on her Red Devils career when she signed for giants Barcelona as a free agent.

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Batlle bid farewell to United after three years in red

(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

You could understand why Batlle favoured the move, given the Catalan outfit were European champions at the time she made the switch and, with their world-class squad, were well in the mix to retain their title – and that they did.

The World Cup winner added a Champions League medal to her honours list in her maiden season with Barcelona to round off a historic quadruple-winning campaign, with the Blaugrana also winning the league and both cups on offer to them.

They very nearly did the same last season, too, but fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat in the UWCL final at the hands of Arsenal.

Whether that has played a part in her decision-making remains to be seen, as The Athletic now claim that Batlle is in talks with the Gunners over a switch when her contract expires at the end of the term.

Arsenal are in talks to sign Ona Batlle in the summer after her contract at Barcelona expires. A deal has not yet been agreed but discussions are ongoing with Arsenal. w/ @gunnerblog
– giovedì 29 gennaio 2026

Arsenal pursuing Batlle ahead of contract expiry

(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

With the Spaniard in the final five months of her deal, she has been able to hold early discussions with any foreign suitors to hash out how a potential transfer might look.

The report stresses that there is no agreement in place yet, but Arsenal are actively pushing to get one over the line. They have set their sights on the 26-year-old due to her versatility to play on both sides.

According to @TheAthleticFC , Arsenal are in talks to sign Spain 🇪🇸 international Ona Batlle in the summer, when her contract expires.
– giovedì 29 gennaio 2026

Arsenal currently sit third in the WSL standings and are just a point above United, who overturned the North London outfit 1-0 in the League Cup semi-final last week.