Manchester City have signed Vivianne Miedema on a three-year deal after the Women's Super League (WSL) all-time top goal scorer left Arsenal upon the expiry of her contract, the club announced on Friday.
ESPN first reported City's interest in signing the forward last month, and City have continued to lead the race to sign the Netherlands international despite interest from across Europe and the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).
Miedema's departure from Arsenal after seven years is marked by her impressive record. She won four trophies, including the 2018-19 WSL title, and scored 125 goals to go with 50 assists in 172 appearances after joining from Bayern Munich in 2017.
Her name is etched in history with the most goals in a single WSL game (six), the most goals in a single season (22), and the most goals in WSL history (74).
Miedema said of her move: "The reason I chose City is because they have the same ambitions as me. They want to win the league and titles.
"Looking to the future, I've always said I want to play with best players in the world and I think City have got that."
In December 2022, the 27-year-old suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which ruled her out of the majority of the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns.
"I haven't played as much football as I would have wished over the past two years, but I think and hope my best years are still to come. I hope I'm going to be able to help the team as much as I can do," Miedema added.
"I am just really excited to be part of the team and for the girls to hopefully help me and get me back to my best. If I get back to my best again then we can achieve really nice things together."
Following her return to action, Miedema made 13 appearances for Arsenal, scoring with her first touch off the bench in her final game against Brighton on the last day of the WSL season.
City manager Gareth Taylor has bolstered his team's attacking options ahead of next season as he searches for his first WSL title. City last won the league in 2016 before Taylor's tenure began.
Taylor said of Miedema: "We're really looking forward to welcoming Viv to City and seeing her flourish over the next three years. Our ambition is to compete on the highest stage and for the highest honours, and Viv is aligned to this desire.
"She's a top talent that I'm excited to work with as she's a player I've always admired. Viv will be a real asset to the team."
At international level, Miedema is the Netherlands' leading goal scorer, netting 95 times in 110 appearances. She was integral to the Dutch lifting their first piece of silverware at Euro 2017.
At the Tokyo Olympics, she set a record by scoring 10 goals in five games despite the Netherlands' quarterfinal exit.
City finished second in the WSL in 2023-24, level on points with league-winners Chelsea but behind on goal difference.
Introducing a prolific goal scorer to the team will only add to the threat that Golden Boot winner Khadija "Bunny" Shaw already provides.
Miedema joins her national teammates Jill Roord, who is herself ruled out with an ACL injury, and Kerstin Casparij in Manchester.