London City Lionesses bet on revival with Rosa Kafaji’s arrival

Swedish forward Rosa Kafaji has completed a permanent transfer from Arsenal to London City Lionesses, ending a two‑year spell at the Gunners. Arsenal originally paid around 2.5 million SEK (€220,000) for the 23‑year‑old, but the fee received for the departure has not been disclosed.

London City Lionesses are seeking to bolster their attack after a season of limited firepower, and Kafaji’s arrival offers a fresh start. The club view the Swedish striker as one of Europe’s brightest young attacking talents, hoping she can revive their scoring options.

Arsenal signed Kafaji in August 2024 from Swedish side Häcken, hailing her as a top prospect. She arrived as the club’s third signing of that summer window and was allocated the number 16 shirt.

After head coach Renee Slegers took charge, Kafaji struggled to cement a regular place and spent the previous season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion. Her limited minutes at Arsenal prompted the decision to seek a permanent move.

Kafaji said, “It’s an independent club, which is very exciting. It’s going to be great to have some familiar faces, of course, Freya (Godfrey) I haven’t seen in a long time, I’ve missed her, and Kosse (Asllani) is a very caring person, so they will make it much easier for me to come into.” The statement underscored the club’s excitement about the signing.

The 23‑year‑old sees the transfer as a chance to rebuild her career and gain regular playing time. She believes the independent environment at London City Lionesses will help her settle quickly.

London City Lionesses will focus on integrating Kafaji into the side as they reshape their squad ahead of the new season. Capitalising on her reputation as a promising European talent could address their previous lack of firepower.