**West Ham United have confirmed the signing of Spain defender Laia Codina from Arsenal on a three-year contract, giving Rita Guarino a proven World Cup winner for the 2026/27 Barclays Women’s Super League season.**
The club announced the deal on Friday, with Codina moving across London after her Arsenal contract came to an end. The 26-year-old centre-back arrives with elite pedigree, having won the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with Spain and collected major club honours during spells with Barcelona and Arsenal.
West Ham said the transfer will be completed on 1 July 2026, once her Arsenal terms formally expire, [according to the club’s official announcement](https://www.whufc.com/en/news/west-ham-united-sign-world-cup-winner-laia-codina).
Codina arrival strengthens Guarino’s West Ham rebuild
-----------------------------------------------------
The move matters because West Ham Women are not just adding depth. Codina brings top-level Champions League experience, international authority and the profile of a defender comfortable building play from the back.
For Guarino, that matters before a campaign where the Hammers need a clearer defensive identity. Codina’s previous experience in Spain, Italy and England should make her one of the most senior voices in the dressing room quickly.
It is also a statement signing for supporters. West Ham have moved early for a player with a winning CV, and the three-year contract gives the club a long runway to build a back line around her.