After 12 years with Turbine Potsdam, Tabea Kemme made the life-changing choice to switch north Germany for north London this month.
The versatile Germany international can play in defence, midfield and also up front, and cannot wait to get started in English football.
“It feels good to be an Arsenal player,” she told Arsenal Player. “It’s a great feeling. I played for 12 years in Potsdam and now I’m ready for the next step, the next challenge, my new adventure here at Arsenal.
“It doesn’t matter for me [which position I play]. It’s important for me to stay on the pitch where I can help the team make good progress in the league. I’m flexible, so it’s the decision of the coach where I will play.
“I met him in January and we talked about Arsenal, how they want to play, and he said, ‘OK, we want to play offensive’ and that’s exactly my thing. Of course we did the same thing at Potsdam so I know the playing style. He also said he didn’t know exactly which position I would play, so we will see.
“The main point for me was that I wanted to play football in another country with a new language, a new culture, another tradition,” Kemme added.
“What was also important to me was that I finished my job at my university in Potsdam, in Germany, and now I’m prepared to only play professional football. I’m going to be free so I know I have a job and when I go back [to Germany] I can go to work as normal. I feel more free to focus on football.”
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