Arsenal goalkeeper Fran Stenson has joined Barclays Women’s Championship club Birmingham City on a season-long loan.
FAWSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from Birmingham City this morning.
The 21-year-old keeper has been on Arsenal’s books since 2019 but she is yet to really put her stamp on the first team. Stenson has enjoyed loan spells with Blackburn Rovers and Brighton & Hove Albion in recent seasons. The player spent her youth with Birmingham City, graduating into the senior team before leaving in 2018. Stenson is now returning to St Andrew’s for a second spell.
In her first spell, Stenson made her Birmingham City debut as a 16-year-old when she came on for Ann-Katrin Berger in a 2-1 victory over Everton in the old FA Women’s Super League 1. That was to be Stenson’s only senior outing for the Blues prior to her move to Manchester City.
Stenson will face a head-to-head battle with former Coventry United goalkeeper Lucy Thomas for the number one goalkeeping jersey at Birmingham City this season. The Blues have assembled a really strong goalkeeping union this summer with both players able to shine on their day. The pair need strong pre-seasons to put down their claims for that number one spot.