Aston Villa Sign WSL ‘Lucky Charm’ Jordan Nobbs On Permanent Deal From Arsenal

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 04: Jordan Nobbs of Aston Villa poses for a picture at Bodymoor Heath … [+] training ground on January 04, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

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One of the stalwarts of the English Women’s Super League, midfielder Jordan Nobbs, has left the club she has represented for 12 years to join Aston Villa on an 18-month contract with an option to extend in the hope of securing a place in the England squad for this summer’s Women’s World Cup finals.

The winner of twelve major trophies in her twelve years at the club, Nobbs, signed from Sunderland in August 2010, has become a fan’s favorite and often captained the side. However, a succession of injuries have put her out of action for long periods in which she has lost her guaranteed starting place in the team under coach Jonas Eidevall and despite signing a new contract in April 2020, she now felt the time was right to move on.

In an emotional open letter to the Arsenal fans, the departing Nobbs said “every single time I put on that shirt, I gave so much of my life to it because I knew how important it was to play for this club, and I knew how much passion and love was in the girls when I first arrived. To know I’ve played my part in creating that legacy is something really special.”

BOREHAMWOOD, ENGLAND – MAY 11: Jordan Nobbs of Arsenal kisses the trophy as she celebrates after … [+] the WSL match between Arsenal Women and Manchester City at Meadow Park on May 11, 2019 in Borehamwood, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

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“If I’m being completely honest, I’m finding it really hard to talk about all of this right now. There’s so much for me to look back on and writing this has dug up a lot of really special, important and emotional memories. I’ve cried a lot over the past few days because I knew this was coming and now the reality of it all is really settling in. There’s a saying that you shouldn’t cry because it’s over, you should smile because it happened, but I’m allowed to do both, right?”

Arsenal Sporting Director, Edu Gaspar added that “Jordan has been a wonderful servant to Arsenal Football Club. Over the past 12 years, she has written her name into the Arsenal history books and forged a deep connection with our loyal supporters. We would like to wish Jordan health, happiness and success on and off the pitch in the future – she is a member of the Arsenal family for life.”

In her time at Arsenal, Nobbs won three Women’s Super League titles, four Women’s FA Cups and five League Cups. The scorer of 81 goals in 270 appearances for the club, Nobbs’ last goal for Arsenal was away to her new employees at Villa Park last month. She has remarkably scored in all 13 seasons of the Women’s Super League since its formation in 2011.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Jordan Nobbs of Arsenal poses for a photo with a fan after the … [+] Barclays FA Women’s Super League match between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Villa Park on December 11, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

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Moreover, she is one of a select group of players to score over 50 goals in the competition. Her 52 league goals have come in 42 different matches, none of which Arsenal have lost, recording 39 wins and three draws. Her new head coach Carla Ward will hope Nobbs will bring this luck with her to Aston Villa.

Currently in mid-table with a record of four wins and five defeats from their nine matches so far, Ward was understandably delighted to secure the services of a serial winner. “This is a big signing for us and Jordan is one of the country’s most decorated footballers. We’re delighted to secure her signature and we hope this move can help the football club as well as cement her place back in the international set-up.”

As with the transfer of Bethany England confirmed yesterday, the move of Nobbs is made with one eye on guaranteeing more first team football in the hope of securing a place in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the Women’s World Cup finals in July. Since making her international debut in 2013, Nobb has played 69 times for her country, scoring eight goals and serving as vice-captain from 2015.

Unlike England, Nobbs has represented the Lionesses in a World Cup finals, playing in a group stage win over Colombia in 2015. That was to be her only involvement at the tournament in which England reached the semi-finals and eventually won the bronze medal by defeating Germany in the third place-play-off.

EDMONTON, AB – JULY 04: Alex Scott and Jordan Nobbs of England celebrate their teams third place … [+] after defeating Germany during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 Third Place Play-off match between Germany and England at Commonwealth Stadium on July 4, 2015 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Matthew Lewis – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

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Speaking to the BBC in 2019, Nobbs revealed that she had played against Colombia an injury which prevented her from taking part later in the tournament. “I played a full 90 minutes with a torn hamstring yet I still don’t truly believe that the bronze medal is mine because I wanted to play so much of a part in it.”

She missed the 2019 World Cup after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in November 2018 and tragically also missed out on the UEFA Women’s Euro last summer after suffering a knee injury. Having forced her way back into Wiegman’s squad, Nobbs hopes it will prove third-time lucky for her at the Women’s World Cup this summer in Australia and New Zealand.