Arsenal add World Cup winners Kinga and Ohno
Monday, February 17, 2014
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Arsenal LFC continued squad rebuilding ahead of the quarter-final with Birmingham City LFC by signing FIFA Women's World Cup winners Yukari Kinga and Shinobu Ohno.
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UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finalists Arsenal LFC have continued their squad-rebuilding by signing Japanese FIFA Women's World Cup winners Yukari Kinga and Shinobu Ohno.
Right-back Kinga, 29, joins from INAC Kobe while 30-year-old forward Ohno – capped 116 times – was most recently at AS Elfen Saitama, having played for Olympique Lyonnais last season. The pair started for Japan in their 2011 World Cup final defeat of the United States in Frankfurt and their loss to the Americans a year later for Olympic gold at Wembley.
Gunners general manager Vic Akers, whose team faced Kinga and Ohno in a 1-1 draw against INAC during Arsenal's November 2011 Japanese tour, said: "Yukari and Shinobu are both extremely experienced internationals, who are proven at the very top level. They will add real quality to our squad and we are delighted to welcome them to Arsenal Ladies."
Kinga and Ohno's arrival follows that of England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain and defender Casey Stoney, versatile Dutch international Anouk Hoogendijk and Scottish striker Christie Murray, who appeared against Arsenal in the UEFA Women's Champions League round of 16 for Glasgow City LFC.
However, since that tie Arsenal have lost Kim Little, Stephanie Houghton, Gemma Davison, Ellen White, Katie Chapman, Gilly Flaherty, Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy. Their last-eight tie against English rivals Birmingham City LFC takes place on 24 and 30 March.