Eintracht Frankfurt have secured the services of Amanda Ilestedt. The 32-year-old, whose contract with Arsenal Women FC expired at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, has signed a three-year deal valid until 30 June 2028.
The 1.78m centre-back began her career in her native Sweden. She lifted the domestic league title for the first time in 2010 with LdB FC Malmö (now operating as FC Rosengård), and went on to win it a further four times in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Silverware in Germany, France and England
One year after winning the Swedish Cup in 2016, she moved to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam in Germany’s Women’s Bundesliga, playing alongside Lara Prasnikar for two years.
Ilestedt subsequently moved to Bayern Munich, scoring five goals in 46 competitive outings for the club and clinching the German league title in 2021. That was followed by two years in France with Paris Saint-Germain, where she claimed the French Cup in 2022, before joining Arsenal the following year.
The Sweden international gave birth to her daughter, Mila, in August 2024, but made her comeback for Arsenal just five months later. She went on to help the team win the UEFA Women’s Champions League later that season, and has so far made 54 appearances in the competition.
“Delighted to be here”
The defender led Sweden to the European Under-19 Championship title as captain in 2012, and earned her maiden senior international cap two years later. She was part of the side that finished third at both the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as earning the silver medal at the 2020 Olympics.
Ilestedt was also in Sweden’s squad for this summer’s Women’s European Championship in Switzerland, where the Scandinavians reached the quarter-finals. Overall, she has 12 goals in 78 appearances for her country.
Eintracht Frankfurt are among the top clubs in Germany and I’m looking forward to playing in a team that can achieve big things, both domestically and in Europe.
Amanda Ilestedt
“I’m delighted to be here,” said Ilestedt of joining the Eagles. “Eintracht Frankfurt are among the top clubs in Germany and I’m looking forward to playing in a team that can achieve big things, both domestically and in Europe. I’m coming here to win games and titles, and I want to help the team with my experience.”
Head coach Niko Arnautis added: “We’re very pleased that we’ve managed to bring a player of this quality and experience to Eintracht Frankfurt. Amanda has played at a lot of top-class clubs and she knows exactly how to win games. She’s got an outstanding character. Her experience will help our team a great deal, and she’s a player that can be a reference point for our younger players in particular. Amanda is a very physical player, she’s strong in the tackle but also very composed on the ball in build-up play. She’s a very complete centre-back and we’re looking forward to having her in our team.”
