Sources: Bay FC Reach…

Bay FC has reached an agreement to sign United States fullback Jenna Nighswonger from Arsenal for a fee of approximately $200,000, as confirmed by multiple sources to ESPN.

Nighswonger’s transfer to Bay FC marks her return to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), where she previously clinched a championship and quickly ascended to the international stage with the USWNT.

With 20 caps and 2 goals for the United States, Nighswonger was part of the squad that secured a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics.

Her time in England was a struggle, and she spent the first half of 2026 on loan at Aston Villa. During her loan, she featured in eight league games.

Aston Villa had the option to permanently acquire Nighswonger’s contract following the loan but opted not to do so, according to a source.

Previously, Gotham FC sold Nighswonger to Arsenal in January 2025 for around $100,000.

Since her arrival at Arsenal in January 2025, Nighswonger played only five league matches. However, she was part of the team that won the 2025 UEFA Women’s Champions League, concluding with a victory over Barcelona in the final, although she did not participate in the competition itself.

Selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft by Gotham FC, Nighswonger played in 20 matches during her rookie season, starting all three playoff games as Gotham claimed its first NWSL Championship in 2023. She was also named the NWSL Rookie of the Year.

Her first call-up to the national team came that fall, and she made her senior debut in December 2023.

Nighswonger made an impact under interim USWNT coach Twila Kilgore and new head coach Emma Hayes, participating in five of six matches during the USWNT’s run to gold at the 2024 Olympics, all from the bench.

Her last match for the U.S. was in February 2025.

Before turning pro, Nighswonger played as a forward at Florida State, a prominent NCAA program, where she celebrated a national championship victory in 2021 and was a finalist for the 2022 Hermann Trophy, awarded to the top college soccer player.

– NWSL midseason grades for all 16 teams: From an A+ to F
– 5 reasons the USWNT may reach the Women’s World Cup final
– Angel City’s Jun Endo has torn ACL, sidelining her for the rest of the season

During her rookie season with Gotham, Nighswonger was mostly deployed as a full-back, a position she has continued to play at both club and international levels.

Currently, Bay FC holds a record of 5 wins, 3 draws, and 9 losses (W-D-L), with 18 points, placing them 14th out of 16 teams in the NWSL. The team is undergoing a rebuilding process under first-year coach Emma Coates.

In the offseason, Bay FC added USWNT midfielder Claire Hutton, and Nighswonger’s arrival follows the recent signing of attacking midfielder Kennedy Fuller from Angel City FC. Additionally, they recently added Argentine forward Agostina Holzheier.

Nighswonger is expected to compete for a full-back position as Bay seeks to enhance their performance in both defensive and offensive aspects. Their defensive statistics are comparable to several teams nearby in the standings, yet they rank second lowest in the league for goals scored, with just 18 in 17 matches.

Report contributed by ESPN’s Emily Keogh.