De Almeida: I grew up watching Henry play, joining the Gunners was a dream

Almeida experienced a whirlwind 24 hours. She played for Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night and signed with Arsenal the following day, eager to put on the red-and-white shirt and begin a new chapter.

In her first club interview at Sobha Realty Training Centre, the new signing could not hide her excitement: “Joining Arsenal has been a goal of my career. This is a great club, and I cannot wait to meet the team tomorrow. Everything has happened so quickly, and I feel very honored to be standing here today.”

Growing up watching Henry play, joining the Gunners was “only natural”

For many England fans, De Almeida’s name may be linked to the moment she scored against the England women’s team at the European Championship. But for her personally, wearing the red-and-white shirt carries a deeper emotional connection.

“Joining Arsenal was a natural thing for me,” De Almeida explained. “When I was young, I watched many French players play for Arsenal, including Henry, Nasri, and manager Arsene Wenger. So when Arsenal showed interest in me, there was no hesitation at all.”

Teaming up with Saliba, whom she sees as a role model

Beyond the connection through women’s football, De Almeida’s move also means she will share a club with France international and Arsenal men’s first-team centre-back William Saliba.

“It feels great. We have spoken before. He is a player I look up to and a role model I learn from,” De Almeida said of her defensive teammate. “Of course, I am very happy to be at the same club as him.”

From opponents to teammates, looking forward to the Emirates Stadium atmosphere

Before joining Arsenal, De Almeida spent five years at Paris Saint-Germain, where she was teammates with former Gunners players such as Amanda Ilestedt and Barbora Votikova. On the night before the transfer announcement, she represented PSG against Frankfurt in a Champions League qualifier, while Ilestedt was playing for the opponents.

“Last night I was still on the pitch playing against Frankfurt. I saw Amanda in the dressing room after the match, but we did not have time to properly talk,” De Almeida recalled. Now, she can finally wear the Arsenal shirt and play alongside former opponents.

As Arsenal Women’s eighth signing of the summer, De Almeida, who will wear the No. 5 shirt, has a clear understanding of her role: “I spoke with head coach Renee Slegers, and she told me what she expects from me. I am a solid defender, I am strong in duels, and I have a good understanding of the game. I am here to help the team.”

Looking ahead to her debut, De Almeida is already eager: “I know how crazy the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium can be and how passionate the fans are. I look forward to meeting them, and I hope my performances will make them happy.”