ALESSIA RUSSO is leaving Manchester United this summer with the striker thought to be nearing a transfer to Arsenal as a free agent.
The England ace, 24, confirmed her departure via a tweet describing her exit as the “hardest decision” she has ever had to make.
The Kent-born Lioness is claimed to have attracted interest from US top-flight side Washington Spirit, according to ESPN.
However it is thought a move to the National Women’s Soccer League is not on the cards.
And various reports claim the player is closing in on a switch to the Gunners’ WSL side who reportedly had two record-breaking bids knocked back in January.
Russo’s exit from Man United comes three years after she joined them in September 2020.
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Back then they were managed by Casey Stoney who is now head coach of US top tier side San Diego Wave.
The striker, who is part of the Lionesses squad competing at the World Cup this summer, is among the players who shone during England’s Euros triumph last year.
Russo netted four goals in the contest coming off the bench in all six games for the Lionesses.
Efforts included a stunning backheel nutmegged finish during the team’s semi-final defeat of Sweden.
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This season saw her help United reach the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in their history.
And she also scored the winner that saw the team become the first side to beat Arsenal at the Emirates in the WSL last November.
Russo’s journey into football began with her playing for the Under-10s of grassroots club Bearsted FC before spells in the academies of Charlton and Chelsea.
She made her senior debut at club level for Chelsea in 2016 before spells at Brighton and US college side North Carolina Tar Heels from January 2017 to August 2020.
Last season Russo finished as United’s joint top scorer in the WSL with 10 goals and one assist in 20 games.
Red Devils boss Marc Skinner had hoped to keep her with talks reported to be ongoing last season.
It has been claimed the club had not initally meet Russo's wage demands until the late stages of talks concerning a new deal.
And she is thought to have attracted interest from Lyon and teams in the USA and Spain as well as Arsenal.
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Russo’s departure from United comes three days before she joins up with the Lionesses for England’s camp ahead of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The team will play two warm-up games against Portugal and Canada before their group stage opener against Haiti in Australia on July 22.
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