Republic of Ireland defender Louise Quinn signs for Arsenal

Republic of Ireland international defender Louise Quinn has signed for Women's Super League outfit Arsenal after former club Notts County went into liquidation last week.

Quinn has signed for the Gunners on an initial three-month contract while the English season moves from a summer season, like in Ireland, to a winter schedule in line with the men's game there.

The 26-year-old has been training with Arsenal for the past week after being informed that County would fold two days before the first game of the season when, ironically, they were to face Arsenal.

“I only officially signed the papers yesterday, but I've been here training away for the week. It was very unsure how it was going to go,” the Blessington defender told extratime.ie.

“I got told on the Thursday that, for definite, I wouldn't be able to play in the game, that I wouldn't be able to be released from my contract with Notts County.

“Then we went into lunch and came out and everything had changed. They'd released me and all my team mates from my contract so from then on we were allowed sign with other clubs.”

For now, the deal just runs until the end of the conclusion of the short season at the end of May and beginning of June and both sides will re-evaluate the situation then.

Quinn had signed an 18-month deal with Notts County in the off-season after bringing to an end a three-year spell with Swedish side Eskilstuna United.

During a successful period in the Damallsvenskan, Quinn won a league title and captained the side to the last 32 of the Champions League.

There had been contact between Quinn and Arsenal before she opted to join Notts County but coach Pedro Martinez Losa decided to stick with the defenders he had at his disposal.

“For the moment, the contract is until the end of the Spring Series, which is until the beginning of June.

“Hopefully then, as the weeks progress, we'll start to get into proper contract talks if that's what we're both looking for.

“I think it was better for both parties at the moment just to get me settled and see, for them and for me, if it's what we both want.

“We think it is so it's good just to get a deal done quickly so I can get on the pitch and play in this Spring Series.”

Quinn made her debut as a substitute in a 0-0 drawn away to Sunderland on Sunday night, where she was joined in coming off the bench by international team mate Katie McCabe.

Fellow international Steph Roche started the game for the Black Cats, who have begun the season with successive scoreless draws and sit one point and one place above the Gunners.

We will have a more extensive interview with Louise on extratime.ie later in the week.