The England Women's manager Hope Powell has welcomed Katie Chapman's decision to return to Arsenal after a season playing professionally in the United States.

Chapman, 28, played for Chicago Red Stars in the Women's Professional Soccer league but said on Friday she was returning to her former club in London.

The Gunners, the dominant force in the English women's game, are among the founder members of the Women's Super League being launched next year.

"It will be good from an England point of view that she will be readily available rather than having to fly from America to play in internationals for us," Powell told the BBC.

"It can be difficult at times to get England players released from their American clubs, so that's one problem we won't have in future with Katie.

"Katie's move back home will be great for the profile of our new league. It's really positive someone of her calibre wants to play in the league."