**Laia Codina has explained her decision to join West Ham United after leaving Arsenal, with the Spain international making clear that the club’s ambition was central to her move.**
The 26-year-old centre-back has signed a three-year contract with the Hammers following her Arsenal exit, giving West Ham a major defensive addition ahead of the new Barclays Women’s Super League campaign.
Codina arrives with heavyweight pedigree. She is a World Cup winner with Spain and was part of the Arsenal squad that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, bringing experience at the highest level into a West Ham side looking to sharpen its spine.
Codina gives West Ham a statement defensive signing
---------------------------------------------------
West Ham confirmed the transfer through the club’s official channels, with Codina speaking about the move in [her first interview as a Hammers player](https://www.whufc.com/en/news/laia-codina-or-first-words).
For West Ham, this is not just a squad-depth move. Codina’s arrival gives the back line proven tournament quality, positional authority and a player used to competing under pressure.
The timing also matters. With pre-season planning already under way, West Ham have secured a defender who can quickly become a reference point for the team’s next phase. After a summer exit from Arsenal, Codina now has the platform to become one of the headline figures in the Hammers’ rebuild.