‘This is the club to take Steph to the next level’

Joe Montemurro believes that Steph Catley is at the perfect club to “go to the next level”.

The Australia international has a wealth of experience in the W-League, having won five championships and two premierships, but this will be her first taste of European football.

“Steph has been sought after by a few of the top European clubs, but she just felt that the way we play, our style and environment suited her and her progress going forward,” Montemurro told Arsenal.com.

“We’re very excited to have Steph join the club. She’s a player that I’ve worked with before at Melbourne Victory where she was the captain, and then I brought her over to Melbourne City so I worked with her for a total of three years. I’ve obviously kept in contact with her as friends also, but she’s definitely a player that once the opportunity arose, understood that she needed to advance her career by coming to Europe.

“That was very important to her and we kept tabs and made sure that the lines of communication were open, and lo and behold we had the opportunity to offer her an opportunity! A lot of the Australian players at the moment have understood that to advance their careers, they have to get the normal contracts in Europe, if you want to call it that, where they play 30 to 40 games in a season under pressure and amongst the best.

“I think that Steph has understood that the WSL is an important stepping stone and being part of one of the best leagues in the world and being amongst the best players in the world is only going to make her better, so it’s a strategic career move for her, but also an important part is that she’s found the right fit with the right club that will take her to the next level.”