Signing for the Gunners is the latest milestone in the forward's unique path, which could also soon take her to the 2023 Women's World Cup…
Cloe Lacasse, Arsenal’s latest summer signing, has not had a particularly straight-forward route to the top. Her arrival in north London, confirmed on Thursday, has become the latest chapter in what she herself describes as an "unorthodox" journey, one which has included five years in Iceland and an international debut at 28 years old.
“I definitely believe that everything happens for a reason,” she told GOAL back in 2021, having just received her first call-up for the soon-to-be Olympic champions, Canada. “I mean, hey, I'm meant to be here and that's why I'm here today and that's just my journey.
“It's a little bit unorthodox. I am proud of the steps I've taken. There's nothing I would change, to be honest. I'm happy with the route that my career is currently going and I'm excited to see what it has in store for me as well in the future.”
Fast-forward two years and Lacasse is now set to get her first taste of one of Europe's best leagues, after four excellent seasons with a newly-formed Benfica side saw her rack up a century of goals and win eight major honours. She could be at this summer's Women's World Cup, too, having been named to Canada's provisional squad.
The 29-year-old became a star in Portugal, one of the very best in the division, and had the chance to translate that form onto even bigger stages in both the Women’s Champions League and international football. Now, her task is to take it up another level as she joins the most successful club in the history of the women’s game in England.
So, who is Lacasse, what makes her story so different and what will she bring to Arsenal? GOAL introduces you to a player set to surprise the Women’s Super League…
GettyStarting out in Iceland
After a strong college career at the University of Iowa, Lacasse started her senior career in Iceland, a popular route for North American players to take and one that can often prove a springboard to a bigger European league.
She won two major trophies and a number of individual awards during five years with IBV, scoring 54 goals in 79 league games. It was form that got her spotted by her now-agent, who is Portuguese. From there, an opportunity would arise with Benfica, a club that had only played one season at that point but had just won promotion to the top flight and had a very exciting project.
“It was an opportunity I couldn't really say no to,” Lacasse told GOAL. “I'm just very ambitious. I knew that this was going to be a very positive step for my career, coming from Iceland. Iceland still has very talented players, but it's a smaller country with less visibility.
“I knew coming [to Portugal] would give me the exposure that I was looking for to take even further steps and hopefully, next getting invited to a camp for Canada. Now, I believe that I do have that visibility and that exposure and I've proven myself to get that opportunity.” She wasn’t wrong…
AdvertisementGettyBecoming a Benfica fan favourite
With her hard-working and energetic style, one complemented by flair and a desire to drive at goal, it would not take long for Lacasse to endear herself to the Benfica faithful. She scored 23 goals in 15 games in her first season with the club to win the Golden Boot and fire Benfica into the Champions League.
That wouldn’t prove to be a flash in the pan, either. Lacasse showed real consistency throughout her spell in Lisbon to score 102 goals in 131 games in all competitions, including 12 in 24 in Europe – quite the return for a team not at all established among the elite yet.
Over time, she’d become a bigger character in the dressing room, too, even wearing the captain’s armband for the club.
GettyInternational debut at 28
Just as Lacasse had hoped, her performances for Benfica would catch the attention of Canada head coach Bev Priestman, and she was called into a senior camp for the first time back in April 2021.
During her time with IBV, there were suggestions that the forward could declare for Iceland, but she has described that as a “misconception” around her desire to obtain Icelandic citizenship. Lacasse has, however, admitted that there were “mental struggles” that came with the long wait for a call from Canada.
“I definitely thought about [Iceland] because every professional football player aspires to be on that international stage. Right? It's definitely something I had to think about,” she said but, in discussing her call-up for Canada, she added: “Patience is virtue.”
That patience finally paid off two years ago. Lacasse wouldn’t make her debut during her first camp, but it would come before the year was out, at 28 years old, in a friendly against Mexico in November. She was even named Player of the Match.
In the time since, she’s continued to grow into the national team environment – named to the CONCACAF Women’s Championship squad last summer, bagging her first goal in October of last year and making the provisional roster for this year’s Women’s World Cup.
GettyCatching Arsenal's eye
Playing Champions League football, winning international call-ups, it was all creating an even bigger buzz around Lacasse – one that was now expanding across Europe. In the group stages of the 2022-23 Champions League, a competition that is now extremely visible, only two players had more touches in the opposition box than the Canada forward. Those were Geyse of Barcelona and Ewa Pajor of Wolfsburg, players representing the two eventual finalists. In fact, only Pajor bettered Lacasse's return of five goals in the group stage.
It’s no wonder that the rumours started to swirl around Lacasse and, in January, Arsenal came calling. The Gunners were suddenly depleted in the forward areas after ACL injuries to Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and the 29-year-old was identified as a top target to bolster the attack.
It would prove difficult to strike a deal with Benfica in the winter window but, as Lacasse would say, patience is a virtue. They’ve finally got their target now.