Arsenal Women’s goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger will leave the club at the complete of the 2025/26 season when her contract expires, as confirmed by the club in an official announcement on April 23, 2026. The 30-year-old Austrian international, who joined from Bayern Munich in May 2019, made her first appearance against West Ham United on the opening day of the 2019/20 Barclays Women’s Super League season. Since then, she has made 143 appearances for Arsenal, keeping 51 clean sheets and contributing to major trophies including the League Cup in 2023 and 2024, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2025.
Zinsberger’s departure was confirmed through an emotional video message shared on her Instagram account, where she reflected on her seven-year journey with the Gunners. “After seven years ends for me the chapter, an Arsenal player to be,” she stated in the video, adding, “I came here as a 23-year-old girl, not knowing what to expect.” The announcement aligns with reports from Austrian media outlet Kronen Zeitung, which featured the video under the headline “Hier im Video – Tränen bei Zinsberger! ÖFB-Star verlässt Arsenal,” highlighting the emotional nature of her farewell.
During her tenure at Arsenal, Zinsberger established herself as one of the league’s top goalkeepers, winning the Barclays Women’s Super League Golden Glove award in the 2021/22 season after recording 13 clean sheets in 22 games. Her contributions were instrumental in Arsenal’s domestic and European successes, including back-to-back League Cup victories and the historic Champions League triumph in 2025. The Austrian national team goalkeeper has also been a stalwart for her country, earning over 100 caps and representing Austria in multiple international tournaments.
Zinsberger’s departure marks the end of an era for Arsenal Women, as she leaves behind a legacy of consistency, leadership, and excellence between the posts. Her experience and professionalism have been vital to the team’s stability over the past seven seasons, particularly during their push for domestic and European glory. The club acknowledged her contributions in their official statement, thanking her for her service and wishing her and her family the best for the future.
As the 2025/26 season nears its conclusion, Arsenal will begin the process of identifying a successor to fill the void left by Zinsberger’s departure. The goalkeeper market is expected to be active in the upcoming transfer window, with several clubs likely to express interest in the experienced Austrian international. For now, Zinsberger remains focused on finishing her Arsenal career strongly, aiming to support the team achieve its seasonal objectives before embarking on the next chapter of her professional journey.
Arsenal fans and the wider football community will remember Zinsberger not only for her shot-stopping abilities but also for her professionalism, dedication, and the positive influence she has had both on and off the pitch. Her departure serves as a reminder of the transient nature of professional sports careers and the importance of celebrating players’ contributions even as they are still active.
The next confirmed checkpoint for Arsenal Women is the conclusion of the 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League season, with the final matchday scheduled for May 2026. Following the season’s end, official announcements regarding Zinsberger’s future destination and Arsenal’s goalkeeper recruitment plans are expected to emerge in the subsequent transfer window.
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