Bay FC Secures Jenna Nighswonger in $200,000 Transfer From Arsenal

Bay FC has agreed to a deal worth approximately $200,000 to sign United States winger Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal.

Bay FC has finalized a deal to acquire United States winger Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal for a transfer fee of approximately $200,000. The move returns the 2024 Olympic gold medalist to the National Women's Soccer League following a stint in England. Nighswonger, who has earned 20 caps and scored two goals for the United States Women's National Team, arrives at a club currently sitting 14th out of 16 teams in the NWSL standings. Bay FC holds a record of 5-3-9 with 18 points through 17 matches.

The transaction marks a significant valuation increase from January 2025, when Gotham FC sold Nighswonger to Arsenal for roughly $100,000. During her time with the London-based club, the winger made only five league appearances. Although she was a member of the Arsenal squad that secured the 2025 UEFA Women's Champions League title with a 1-0 victory over Barcelona in the final, she did not see any playing time during that specific competition. To gain more minutes, she spent the first half of 2026 on loan at Aston Villa, where she featured in eight Women's Super League matches starting in January. While Aston Villa held a permanent transfer option at the conclusion of that loan, the club declined to exercise it.

NWSL Championship and Rookie Honors

Nighswonger originally entered the professional ranks as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft, selected by Gotham FC. In her debut professional season, she played in 20 regular-season matches and started all three playoff games, helping Gotham secure its first NWSL Championship. Her performance earned her the NWSL Rookie of the Year award. While she played as a forward during her collegiate career at Florida State—where she won a 2021 national championship and became a 2022 Hermann Trophy finalist—Gotham utilized her primarily as a full-back. This positional shift continued at the international level, where she has functioned as both a full-back and wing-back.

International Career and Olympic Success

Her rapid ascent led to a senior international debut in December 2023 after receiving her first call-up that fall. She made an immediate impact on the coaching staff, including interim manager Twila Kilgore and current head coach Emma Hayes. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Nighswonger appeared in five of the six matches contested by the USWNT. All of those appearances came as a substitute during the team's successful run to the gold medal. Her most recent cap for the United States occurred in February 2025.

Bay FC Roster Rebuild Under Emma Coates

First-year head coach Emma Coates is integrating Nighswonger into a lineup that has struggled offensively, scoring 18 goals in 17 games—the second-lowest total in the league. Nighswonger is expected to compete for a full-back role to bolster a defense that currently ranks statistically equal to or better than several teams positioned near them in the table. This signing follows a series of midseason moves, including the acquisition of attacking midfielder Kennedy Fuller from Angel City FC and Argentine forward Agostina Holzheier. These additions join United States midfielder Claire Hutton, who arrived at the club during the preceding offseason.