Georgia Stanway’s transfer to Arsenal has already made its mark, with the England midfielder adding a new tattoo to her collection. Following her move from Bayern Munich last month, Stanway unveiled her tattoo reading ‘Whatever the weather’ on her right arm, inspired by the anthem “North London Forever” during her signing announcement.

At 27, Stanway is no stranger to body art, boasting nearly 200 tattoos and honing her skills as a tattoo artist. Her clientele includes fellow England player Beth Mead. Despite her artistic pursuits, Stanway isn’t finished with personalizing her own skin. “You see the tattoos – I see the skin. So much more to come!” she expressed.

Stanway’s free transfer to Arsenal marks one of the major developments in this summer’s Women’s Super League (WSL) transfer window. During her four successful years in Germany, she secured several trophies and earned two European Championship medals with the England squad.

Long a key figure in Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses, Stanway noted that her experience in the Bundesliga significantly advanced her game. “I’ve massively changed as a player and as a person,” she shared. “I’ve got more comfortable with myself and I enjoy my own time a lot more. Munich also gave me the opportunity to develop a position and to figure out how I wanted to play with trust and expectation from the manager.”

Now, at the Emirates Stadium, Stanway is poised to bolster Arsenal’s ambitions in the WSL as they aim for their first title since 2018-19. She highlighted that after learning of Arsenal’s interest, there was no other club she considered. “I knew I wanted to take the next step. I like the fact Arsenal came in for me when I wasn’t available. It’s a really nice feeling to be wanted,” she said. “What Arsenal are building within England, within the WSL, within Europe, is something I want to be part of. It’s setting the standard with women’s football.”

Adjusting to Life in London

Last season, Arsenal placed second to Stanway’s former team, Manchester City, prompting changes within the squad. This summer has seen them welcome several new players, including Ona Batlle from Barcelona and Swiss midfielder Geraldine Reuteler.

“It’s a little bit of a new chapter,” Stanway said. “A lot of quality has come in. Arsenal obviously went hunting in the Bundesliga, which is a league that sometimes goes under the radar. From the outside, everybody wants to be a part of Arsenal and what they’re about to create.”

While eager about her football journey, Stanway admitted that adapting to life in London may take time. Growing up in Barrow-in-Furness, she noted that the hustle and bustle of the capital contrasts her accustomed local lifestyle, stating, “I’m a bit of a homebody and I’m so used to everything being so local.” She added, “I like little things within the countryside, I like farms, so I don’t think I’ll be in the city too much!”

Listen to an Arsenal special on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. Find interviews with Georgia Stanway, Renee Slegers, Lotte Wubben-Moy and more on the Women’s Football Weekly feed.

Georgia Stanway’s move to Arsenal has already had an impact on her body – in the form of yet another tattoo for the England midfielder.

Last month when she joined from Bayern Munich, Stanway’s signing reveal video showed her having the words ‘Whatever the weather’ inked on to her right arm – lyrics from the club anthem North London Forever.

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Decorating her skin is nothing new to the 27-year-old, who estimates she has close to 200 tattoos and has developed her skills as an artist in her own right.

Her clients include England team-mate Beth Mead, longtime servant of Arsenal and now of Manchester City – but Stanway is certainly not calling time on customising her own body.

“You see the tattoos – I see the skin,” she said. “So much more to come!”

Stanway’s arrival at Arsenal on a free transfer from Bayern is one of the most high-profile moves of an eye-catching transfer window in the Women’s Super League (WSL).

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The midfielder enjoyed four trophy-laden years with the German club, and boasts two European Championship winners’ medals with England.

A long-established totem in Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses side, Stanway told the Women’s Football Weekly podcast how playing in the Bundesliga has developed her game.

“I’ve massively changed as a player and as a person,” she said. “I’ve got more comfortable with myself and I enjoy my own time a lot more.

“Munich also gave me the opportunity to develop a position and to figure out how I wanted to play with trust and expectation from the manager.”

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She arrives at Emirates Stadium in her prime and ready to ignite Arsenal’s push for a first WSL title since 2018-19.

She explains that once aware of their interest, there was only one club in the running for her signature.

“I knew I wanted to take the next step,” she said. “I really like the fact Arsenal came in for me when I wasn’t available. It’s a really nice feeling to be wanted.

“What Arsenal are building within England, within the WSL, within Europe, is something I want to be part of.

“It’s setting the standard with women’s football.”

London move ‘will take a bit of adjusting’

Last season, Arsenal finished second to Stanway’s former club Manchester City but have made changes this summer, with Mead among those to leave and seven new signings through the door.

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Among them are Barcelona and Spain full-back Ona Batlle, Switzerland midfielder Geraldine Reuteler and exciting young forward Lisa Baum, with the latter two also arriving from German football.

“It’s a little bit of a new chapter,” Stanway said. “A lot of quality has come in. Arsenal obviously went hunting in the Bundesliga, which is a league that sometimes goes under the radar.

“From the outside, everybody wants to be a part of Arsenal and what they’re about to create.”

While excited about her football ambitions, Stanway does concede that living in London is a new challenge.

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Having grown up in the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness, she conceded that being around the capital city “will take a little bit of adjusting”.

“I’m a bit of a homebody and I’m so used to everything being so local,” she said. “I’ve already said to the girls about places being so far away and they’re like, ‘It’s only an hour’.

“I like little things within the countryside, I like farms, so I don’t think I’ll be in the city too much!”

Listen to an Arsenal special on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast. Find interviews with Georgia Stanway, Renee Slegers, Lotte Wubben-Moy and more on the Women’s Football Weekly feed.

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