'We won the World Cup and it changed nothing'

Arsenal forward Mariona Caldentey has said more Spanish players are moving to the Women's Super League because "we won the World Cup and it changed nothing".

Caldentey, 28, joined Arsenal from Barcelona this summer and is one of nine Spain internationals playing in England's top flight.

She was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad in 2023 but said their triumph did not have the same effect on the domestic game as England's Euro 2022 triumph.

"The Spanish league is not going how we would like it," Caldentey told BBC Radio 5 Live's Women's Football Weekly.

"When England won the Euros, everyone could see a really big change in the league. That is what we missed in Spain.

"We won the World Cup and it changed nothing. Right now England is the best league to play in and it is exciting for the players."

The Lionesses' Euro 2022 triumph was a catalyst for increased attendances in the women's game in England, as well as participation growth, with almost 1,500 new teams registered since Sarina Wiegman's side beat Germany at Wembley.

Caldentey's Arsenal team-mate and fellow World Cup winner Laia Codina said more Spanish players want to move to England because of the growth on and off the pitch.

"England won the Euros in 2022 and we won the World Cup last year. I really feel that nothing changed in Spain," she said.

"Here you can see that everything is changing, everything is improving. The clubs are spending more money to try to go up. Maybe it is why more Spanish players are coming here. It is a challenge and an exciting place.

"In the national team they ask a lot, they want to know how it is going here. I hope that we can bring more [players to the WSL]."

Spain's Liga F received a huge boost on Monday, when Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati signed a new contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2028.

Some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Women's Super League champions Chelsea, were thought to be interested in Bonmati this summer.