Arsenal have announced the signing of England international forward Nikita Parris from Lyon.
The 27-year-old Toxteth-born attacker returns to the Barclays FA Women’s Super League after spending the last two years in France where she won the French Division 1 Féminine title, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Championnes and European football’s biggest prize, the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Parris has long been linked with a return home to England with Arsenal rumoured to be her destination and the club today finally announced her signature. The forward will link-up with her new teammates after representing Team GB at the Olympic Games in Japan later this month.
After signing on at Meadow Park, Parris told Arsenal’s official media team “I’m very happy to be here, Arsenal has an unbelievable history and I want to be a part of this. I want to achieve all domestic titles and compete in the champions league here. I’m happy to be back in the WSL which has grown and improved so much since I left.”
Parris is the third-highest Barclays FA Women’s Super League goalscorer in the history of the competition. She is 11 goals behind new teammate Vivianne Miedema and five short of Manchester City forward Ellen White. Parris will be hoping to help bolster Arsenal’s attacking ranks both in the domestic competitions and in Europe this season.