Laia Codina Paneda contract will expire at the end of the season. Arsenal women football club officially announced as of today 11th of May 2026.
Laia Codina Paneda is a Spanish centre-back playing for Arsenal Women and the Spain national team. She stands out for her technical ability, composure in possession, strong aerial presence, and modern defending style that helps build attacks from the back.
Personal Details
• Born: 22 January 2000 in Campllong, near Girona, Catalonia, Spain.
• Age: 26 (as of May 2026).
• Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in).
• She wears the No. 5 shirt for Arsenal.
Club Career
Early Years and Barcelona (2017–2023):
Codina developed through Barcelona’s renowned youth academy. She had a productive loan spell at AC Milan in the 2021–22 season, gaining valuable experience in Serie A. Back at Barcelona, she contributed to a dominant era, winning multiple domestic and European titles, though playing time was often limited behind established stars.
Arsenal (2023–2026):
She joined Arsenal permanently in August 2023. In her three seasons at the club, she made 58 appearances and scored 4 goals across all competitions.
Key contributions at Arsenal:
• Part of the team that won the UEFA Women’s Champions League in 2024/25.
• Helped secure the FA Women’s League Cup in 2023/24 (coming on as a substitute in the final against Chelsea).
• Scored her first goal for the club in the Continental Cup against Reading in January 2024.
In the 2025/26 season, she featured in around 10–15 matches (roughly 5–6 starts) in the WSL, accumulating about 450–550 minutes, with 0–1 assist. Her appearances were rotational due to strong competition in central defence.
Recent announcement: As of today (May 11, 2026), Arsenal have confirmed that Laia Codina will leave the club at the end of the 2025/26 season when her contract expires. She is expected to seek more regular playing time elsewhere.
International Career
Codina has represented Spain at various youth levels and earned senior caps since 2022. Her biggest achievement came at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she played a key role in Spain’s historic victory, starting in several knockout-stage matches, including the final. She also won the UEFA Women’s Nations League in 2023/24.
She unfortunately missed the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 due to a persistent pelvic injury (pubalgia) that required surgery in mid-2025.
Style of Play and Outlook
Codina represents the prototype of a ball-playing centre-back. She excels at reading the game, progressing the ball cleanly, and contributing on set-pieces. At 26, she is in her prime and brings strong pedigree from Barcelona and Spain’s golden generation.
Her time at Arsenal, though impacted by injuries and squad depth, coincided with major successes. She leaves as a respected squad player who helped the team reach new heights in Europe. Expect interest from other top clubs in the WSL or abroad as she enters the next chapter of her career.
