Arsenal have signed the USA defender Jenna Nighswonger before the Women’s Super League transfer window closes on Thursday.

The 24-year-old left-back has moved from the National Women’s Soccer League club NJ/NY Gotham FC for a fee understood to be $100,000 (£80,360). She had one season remaining on her contract.

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Nighswonger said: “I’m so happy to be here. I’ve always wanted to play in England and joining such an historic football club is a dream come true. I want to win trophies with this club and help the team in any way possible. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to call myself an Arsenal player and I can’t wait to get started.”

Gotham finished third in the regular NWSL table last season and the California-born Nighswonger has been there since 2023, helping them to win the NWSL title that year. She has made 18 international appearances for the Olympic champions and was part of the squad that won gold in Paris last August under the former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

Nighswonger has scored twice for the USA since her international debut in December 2023. She previously represented her country at under‑16, under-17, under-18, under-20 and under-23 levels. Her move to Arsenal is understood to be all-but finalised.

Liverpool put five goals past their fellow WSL side West Ham United away from home in the Women's FA Cup and set up a fifth-round tie away to third-tier side Rugby Borough, live on the BBC.

Matt Beard's team were truly dominant from the start and eventually coasted to victory after West Ham were reduced to 10 players when Amber Tysiak was sent off for violent conduct. By then, Liverpool were already two goals up and they completed a 5-0 victory thanks to second-half efforts from Grace Fisk, Lucy Parry and the Scotland international midfielder Sam Kerr.

Arsenal were also 5-0 winners, against Championship opposition at home to Bristol City, in another of the four fourth-round ties that was rescheduled because of wintry weather earlier in January.

The England forward Beth Mead and Swedish striker Stina Blackstenius each scored twice for the hosts, with Frida Maanum also getting on the scoresheet for the record 14-time winners of the Women's FA Cup. They will now host another second-tier side, London City Lionesses, in round five.

Everton will travel to league leaders Chelsea after claiming a 2-0 victory at home to Tottenham The France forward Kelly Gago scored her first goal for Everton since her January arrival from the French club Nantes, to open the scoring for the hosts, before Heather Payne made the win safe in second-half stoppage time.

WSL side Brighton booked a trip to face Aston Villa with a 4-1 win at home to Championship side Durham, with the 18-year-old England youth international striker Michelle Agyemang among the goalscorers for Brighton.

Women's FA Cup fifth-round draw

Wolves v Manchester United

Chelsea v Everton

Portsmouth v Sunderland

Manchester City v Leicester

Crystal Palace v Newcastle

Aston Villa v Brighton

Rugby Borough v Liverpool

Arsenal v London City Lionesses

Arsenal regard Nighswonger as not only an excellent international-calibre player but as being of the right age profile. She is more than experienced enough to make an impact and has the potential to improve. Nighswonger’s move will bring a second high-profile USA defender to the English top flight this week, days after Naomi Girma moved to Chelsea from San Diego Wave for a world-record $1.1m.

Renée Slegers, Arsenal’s head coach, said: “Jenna has had a great trajectory in the game and we’re delighted to bring her to Arsenal. Despite being only 24, she plays with great maturity and presence and knows what it takes to compete to win on the biggest stages at both domestic and national team level. Jenna is an important addition to our squad and I’m looking forward to getting started together.”