Cerci signed a two-year contract with Arsenal with the option to extend for an additional year. Regarding the transfer, he said, "This is a great honor for me. It didn't matter which other clubs were interested in me; I wanted to play for Arsenal." After starting her career with significant success in clubs such as Werder Bremen and Turbine Potsdam, Cerci was deprived of the 2022 Women's European Championship and the 2023 Women's World Cup due to the cruciate ligament injury she suffered in March 2022. He then regained his form with a transfer via FC Köln to Hoffenheim, where he twice finished second in the top scorer competition with 16 goals.

"She is a proven goalscorer in the Bundesliga. We think she is in a strong position to make the move to English football," Arsenal women's football director Clare Wheatley said. Last season, Cerci also improved other aspects of his game and attracted attention in this area by making 9 assists in the league. This tally was one of the highest in the league at the time, along with new Arsenal teammate Georgia Stanway. “Selina has impressive goal tallies and brings a strong presence, physical attributes and attacking appetite. We think these qualities make her a great addition to our squad,” said head coach Renee Slegers.

In the 2025-26 season, Arsenal became the second-highest goal-scoring team in the WSL after Manchester City, but their fight for the title weakened due to scheduling chaos towards the end of the season. Club legend Mead, 31, had been a reliable player for 9 seasons; However, he was injured for much of last season and left with just two league goals. Cerci, on the other hand, is 26 years old, entering the prime period of his career, and has consistently demonstrated his ability to score goals without playing for Germany's giant clubs such as Bayern Munich or Wolfsburg. "I'm excited to get out of my comfort zone," said Cerci, and with this transfer, he will play Champions League football outside Germany for the first time. The adaptation process will be important because not every foreign player can adapt quickly. For example, Selina's compatriot Lea Schuller could only score one goal in 11 matches for Manchester United last season. Arsenal have had a slow start in the last two seasons and will not be able to allow that to catch up with leaders City this season.

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1. Selina Cerci Joins Arsenal from Hoffenheim on Free Transfer