Exclusive Interview: Get to Know Géraldine Reuteler, From Frankfurt Loyalty to Arsenal Ambition

Sophie Hurst
10 minutes ago
5 min read

Sitting down at London Colney for her first set of public interviews since joining the club, Géraldine Reuteler addresses her second language right off the bat, with genuine modesty, "My English is not perfect."

After eight years in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt, Reuteler has officially made the jump to the WSL. Fresh off representing Switzerland on home soil at last summer's Euros - and winning Player of the Match in all 3 group stage games - she decided it was time for a completely new test.

Leaving the Comfort Zone

Having spent nearly a decade in Germany, Reuteler reached a point where staying in the same environment was no longer enough. Swapping Frankfurt for London was a deliberate choice to force herself out of familiar routines and test her game against the absolute best every single week.

"I just wanted to see something else," Reuteler explains on her decision to move. "I was [in Frankfurt for] eight years now; it was a long time. I wanted to see another league, and the English league is one of the best leagues in the world, Arsenal is also one of the best clubs in the world. I think it's a privilege to play here."

The transition was made even smoother thanks to conversations with former Arsenal midfielder and current Swiss national team captain Lia Wälti.

"I'm good friends with Lia Walti, so we talked a lot about Arsenal also in the previous years," Reuteler says. "She was also here a long time, so I heard about Arsenal all the time, and saw the improvement of the club in the last years; it's really impressive to see."

Roots in Lucerne and the Meaning Behind Number 14

Reuteler’s journey to the top tier started early, making her senior debut for FC Luzern at just 15 years old. Like so many elite players, her competitive drive was built in childhood backgardens, where she recalls getting into football by playing alongside family.

"My older brothers both played for fun," she recalls. "I always wanted to play football. I started playing with the boys until I was 14, and then I went to the [senior women’s team]."

When finalising her Arsenal move, one detail was key; her shirt number. Reuteler will wear the iconic number 14 jersey this season, a number loaded with carrying the legendary weight of Thierry Henry.

"It’s a special number for me," she says. "I had number 14 at Lucerne and Frankfurt. So I was really happy that it was free."

Tactical Fit: Renée Slegers’ Box-to-Box Engine

Known across Europe for her relentless engine and ability to cover multiple positions across the pitch, Reuteler gives head coach Renée Slegers serious tactical flexibility.

"I'm a box-to-box player, so I think I will fit in in the system of how Arsenal want to play," and when asked about where she feels most comfortable on the pitch, she states, "On the eight."

Now, this transfer isn’t exactly the surprise of the window, with rumours being pretty loaded since last summer, when Frankfurt faced Arsenal in a pre-season friendly. Reuteler admits that a brief conversation with Slegers before that match had her extra tense before kick-off.

"I was already talking a bit with Renee before that [pre-season] game, so I was quite nervous," she admits. "It was a nice test for us because we never played such a team in preseason."

A Step Up in Environment

While Eintracht Frankfurt is a historic name in European football, Reuteler comments that the scale of operations at London Colney is on another level entirely. From specialised backroom care to the standard in training sessions, the step up was immediate.

"It's a huge difference," she says when comparing the setups. "It's much bigger here than in Frankfurt, everything is a bit more professional. So many staff members, there is someone everywhere. There's so much good quality, and everyone tries to help everyone."

Photo Credit: Julia Kneissl (Imago, Sports Press Photo)

That daily battle for starting spots in training was precisely what she was craving after eight years in one place.

"I was in Frankfurt for eight years, in the same environment," she explains. "So it was not that competitive at the end because I knew everything. So I think here it's a bit of a difference. It's competitive every day, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Reuteler’s observations hit on a wider trend right now. Her Swiss teammate, Lia Wälti, recently spoke candidly about the difference in footballing standards between England and the rest of Europe after returning to the WSL with Brighton following a year at Juventus, admitting she missed feeling properly supported and valued as an elite athlete. While Reuteler is coming from a top German club rather than Serie A, her reaction to London Colney says it all - the scale of investment, backroom support, and daily professionalism in the WSL is operating on a different level, making England the clear destination for players wanting an environment that matches their ambitions.

Life in London and the Dream of the Emirates

Off the pitch, adjusting to life in England has been an adventure in itself. While getting her bearings around the capital, she’s already figured out her preferred way to navigate the city.

"I really like it so far. It's a big difference to Switzerland or Germany," she says. "London is huge. I liked it a lot more by train than by car. "

That transition to a massive new city is made easier by a strong Swiss connection in the WSL. Having left Eintracht Frankfurt at the same time as her close friend and international teammate Nadine Riesen, Reuteler isn't facing the move to England completely alone. Add in Lia Wälti's return to the WSL with Brighton, and there is a proper Swiss support network taking root this transfer window.

Whether it's catching up with friends or exploring her new surroundings, Reuteler is gradually building her daily routine in London.

"Away from the pitch, I like [seeing my] friends. We have some Swiss people in England, that's really nice," she says. "I like drinking coffee, going to new restaurants, going to the cinema, stuff like this."

Above all, the excitement of walking out at the Emirates Stadium remains the ultimate draw of her move to Arsenal.

"It's really nice to play every game at the Emirates," Reuteler says. "I think that's a dream. Where else do you get this? In Germany, it was not that often that you could play in the [Main] Stadium."

For Reuteler, the move to north London is the next step for a player ready to push her game to its highest limit. Bringing eight years of top-level experience, a relentless work rate, and a calm confidence to the dressing room, she arrives not as her own distinct force. As the new WSL season approaches, Arsenal’s midfield is looking dangerous, and Géraldine Reuteler is ready to play a massive part in it.