New West Ham United women’s team midfielder Oona Siren is relishing the opportunity to play in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
The 23-year-old has penned a two-year deal in east London, and makes the move after spending the entirety of her professional career so far in Scandinavia with TiPS, KuPS and LSK Kvinner.
Siren boasts pedigree and experience at some of the highest echelons of the game, having won 14 caps so far for Finland and played in the UEFA Women’s Nations League and the UEFA Women's Champions League. She becomes manager Rehanne Skinner’s eighth new signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Kinga Szemik, Shekiera Martinez, Camila Sáez, Inès Belloumou, Shelina Zadorsky, Manuela Paví and Seraina Piubel.
Despite her relatively tender age, Siren has amassed over 150 appearances in the top divisions in Finland and Norway, lifting two Kansallinen Liiga titles and the Finnish Cup during her time with KuPS. Siren has also continued her relentless success on the international stage with Finland, helping her country to a debut win at the 2024 Pinatar Cup in February.
Fresh from signing her contract with the Hammers, Siren sat down with West Ham TV to discuss her move, her career so far and her excitement at the prospect of playing in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
You can watch her first interview with West Ham TV in the video player above, or scroll down to read on...
Oona, welcome to West Ham United. Tell us how it feels to be signing for the Club?
It feels really amazing, and I’m very excited to be here. I’m looking forward to starting my work here.
You’re making the move away from Scandinavia for the first time in your career. You must be excited about the opportunity to play here in England?
I’m very excited about it [the prospect of playing in the Barclays Women’s Super League]. I know that the league in England is one of the best in the world, so it’s very interesting to see how everything works here.
You’ve played in the Champions League and won two league titles during your time in Finland. Do you think the experience of winning trophies and playing in a top competition will help you coming into the WSL?
I think they have all been very important experiences in my career and have given me motivation and pushed me to be the best as I can as a player. I think it will help me a lot during my time here at West Ham.
For the Finland national team, you’ve won 14 caps so far and have played in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. Is your aim while you’re here at West Ham to continue establishing yourself in the international set-up?
I think that coming here to West Ham and working in this sort of environment will help me develop as a player so that I’ll be able to play more international games and help my country as much as possible.
What can the West Ham United supporters expect to see from you on the pitch?
I always give one hundred per cent and do everything to help the team win.
On the WSL more generally, what are your thoughts on the league and the level of competition? Are you looking forward to testing yourself in one of the best leagues in the world?
I think the competition here is very difficult, and every team is very good and competitive, and I know that a lot of the best players in the world play in this league, so it is going to be very interesting to see how I get on here.
We begin our campaign in just over a week's time. How do you think it will feel to pull on the West Ham shirt for the first time?
I’m very excited. I'm looking forward to pulling on the West Ham shirt for the first time.
