Barbora Votikova: Arsenal signs the Czech goalkeeper on loan until the end of the season

Arsenal signed goalkeeper Barbora Fotikova on loan from Slavia Prague until the end of the current season.

The 29-year-old has featured in the Women’s Super League before, making six league appearances for Tottenham, including her debut against Arsenal.

The Czech international kept a clean sheet as Tottenham beat Arsenal 1-0 for their first ever Premier League win in December 2023.

“It is great to join this special club,” Votikova said.

“Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a special squad and special fans, so it’s a huge honor for me to come here. It’s been a dream for me to play at the Emirates Stadium and I can’t wait to get started.”

She spent seven years with Slavia Prague between 2014 and 2021 before returning two years ago and winning the Czech League and Cup double last season.

Fotikova has made 56 appearances for the Czech Republic since making her international debut in 2014.

Arsenal coach Rene Sligers added: “We are delighted to have brought in an experienced goalkeeper in Barbora, who will provide additional cover and competition in our goalkeeping unit.”

“We feel it is an excellent deal to strengthen our squad for the remainder of this season.”

Arsenal moved to Fotikova after the team’s Austrian goalkeeper, Manuela Zinnsberger, was ruled out of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury she suffered in October last year.

Fellow goalkeeper Anneke Borbe was also taken off on a stretcher in Arsenal’s Champions League final win over Corinthians last weekend after a heavy collision with teammate Lottie Woobin Moi.

Another goalkeeper, Daphne van Domselaar, has been sidelined with a quad problem, with her last match coming in mid-November against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

She returned to the bench for the League Cup semi-final against Manchester United in January, but only returned to action in the 131st minute against Corinthians after Burpee was injured.