Player Profile: Alessia Russo

Alessia Russo is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Women’s Super League club Arsenal, and the England national team.

Before signing for Arsenal on a free transfer in summer 2023, Russo had spells at other WSL clubs Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Manchester United, as well as playing college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Alessia only made one senior appearance for Chelsea in the first round of the FA WSL Continental Cup in 2016. In 2017, Russo moved to Brighton & Hove Albion, who were newly promoted to the WSL, she scored their first ever goal at WSL level in a 1-1 draw against London Bees.

She then moved over to the United States to play college soccer joining the North Carolina Tar Heels. In her first season with them, she started 18/19 games and finished as the top goal scorer on the team with nine goals and two assists. Unfortunately, Russo was then struck by injury in the following season, however, that didn’t stop her from being part of the United Soccer Coaches first-team All-American selection, the first Tar Heel to be part of the first team since 2013. Russo returned from injury in 2019 and had a last successful season with the Tar Heels, winning the 2019 ACC Women’s Soccer Tournament, being named first-team All-ACC for the third year running, ACC Tournament MVP for a second time and making the Hermann Trophy semi-final list, before announcing she was forgoing her final year due to the pandemic.

Alessia then signed with Manchester United in 2020, she scored her first goal for the club in her second game and was nominated for WSL Player of the Month in October 2020. United rejected two world-record transfer bids from Arsenal in January 2023, in June of the same year it was announced she would leave the club at the end of the season, when her contract expired.

While at Arsenal, the striker has scored 28 goals in 52 appearances. Some of her most notable goals include the winning goal in a 1-0 North London derby and a 1-0 victory against the A-Leagues All Stars in Australia. In the 24/25 season, Russo scored in four consecutive matches helping the Gunners keep their record of eight unbeaten matches.

Russo has also represented England through the youth levels and has earned herself a regular starting spot in the senior team. Her first goals for the senior team came in 2021 against Latvia, she scored a hat-trick which became the fastest scored in the history of English players. She was named part of the Euro 2022 winning

squad, where she was also awarded Goal of the Tournament and the Bronze Boot. She has currently made 46 senior appearances for her country and scored 20 goals.

Alessia plays well as both the number 9 and a false 9. She plays well leading upfront alone or with other players such as Blackstenius allowing an extra level of attack. She can be a physical player and knows when to apply pressure to delay the opposition. Russo is also talented in the air, making herself a target for corners and free kicks, she wins nearly 60% of aerial duals. She is an intelligent player and can read the game well and adapt to various stages in a game, when needed she is able to defend well, winning over 80% of her tackles.