Jenna Nighswonger has completed a permanent move from Arsenal Women to Bay FC, bringing her 18-month spell in north London to an end.
The United States international joined Arsenal from Gotham FC in January 2025 but struggled to secure regular minutes before spending the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa.
Bay FC have now brought the 25-year-old back to the NWSL on a permanent basis. ESPN reported that the deal was worth around $200,000, approximately £150,000.
Wishing you the very best of luck in the future, Jenna! 💫
Thank you for everything ❤️
Jenna Nighswonger has completed a permanent move to Bay FC 👇
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) August 10, 2026
Nighswonger arrived at Arsenal with a strong reputation after winning the NWSL Championship with Gotham and representing the United States during their gold-medal-winning Olympic campaign in 2024.
Regular football proved considerably harder to find in north London. She made only five Women’s Super League appearances for Arsenal before being allowed to join Aston Villa on loan in January.
Villa included an option to make the transfer permanent and gave Nighswonger significantly more playing time during the second half of the campaign. They eventually decided not to activate that clause, leaving her Arsenal future uncertain heading into the summer.
Nighswonger was subsequently given permission to remain in the United States rather than report for Arsenal’s pre-season programme while the final details of her Bay FC move were completed.
Her departure comes as Renée Slegers continues reshaping the squad ahead of the new campaign.
ReadArsenal reported on Saturday that several of Arsenal Women’s new and younger players were given opportunities during the 2-1 pre-season victory over Crystal Palace, with summer signing Lisa Baum scoring before Chloe Kelly completed the turnaround.
Nighswonger will now look to rediscover the form which established her as one of the NWSL’s most exciting young players before her move to England.
Her Arsenal spell never developed as either side would have hoped, but a return to familiar surroundings offers the defender the chance to play regularly again.
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