IRELAND CAPTAIN KATIE McCabe is leaving Arsenal after 11 years with the club.
The 30-year-old will depart upon her contract expiration, meaning Saturday’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield will be her farewell match.
The wide player, who has made 305 appearances and scored 37 goals since signing from Shelbourne in December 2015, has won every trophy available in her time with the club.
Last season, she added the Champions League to a list of honours which includes the Women’s Super League, the FA Cup, three League Cups, and the FIFA Champions Cup, which was claimed in February.
Barcelona left-back Ona Battle is expected to sign for Arsenal, but there had been recent indications that talks over a late deal were ongoing between the club and McCabe.
The Dubliner was also said to be on the radar of several other clubs, with The Athletic reporting interest from WSL rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as from America’s NWSL, in recent months.
McCabe said in a statement published on the Arsenal website: “I’ve gone back and forth on how to write this because honestly, it’s a huge chapter of my life closing and there are so many people and moments that mean so much to me.
“I arrived at Arsenal as a young girl from Dublin in 2015, not really knowing what to expect – just knowing I wanted to be here. Over time, it became so much more than football. It became home.
“I grew up here. I built something to be proud of here. I’ve achieved every major trophy here, and it’s shaped me as a player and as a person.
“We’ve been through everything together. The early days trying to find my place, the loan spell that changed a lot for me, and then coming back and finally feeling like I belonged here.”
McCabe has been a permanent fixture for Arsenal through the years, predominantly at left-back, but she has excelled while filling in at centre-back on numerous occasions this season.
After a 2016 FA Cup medal and a loan spell with Glasgow City in 2017, she became a regular under manager Joe Montemurro, winning the 2018 League Cup and 2019 WSL title.
The Arsenal statement hailed “Katie’s passion and spirited style, cementing her place as a firm favourite on the terraces”.
She was voted Player of the Season in 2020/21 and again in 2022/23, a year in which the Gunners won another League Cup and made a memorable run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, with McCabe named in the tournament’s Team of the Season.
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Another League Cup win followed in 2024 before the 2025 Champions League triumph, where McCabe lined out at left-back in the 1-0 win over Barcelona.
Last week, she was announced as the Arsenal Player of the Month for April.
Introducing our April Player of the Month, as voted for by you... 🥁@Katie_McCabe11 🌟
“Winning the Champions League is something I genuinely don’t think anything will ever top,” McCabe continued.
“If 10-year-old me could see what this journey became, she’d be so proud. To say I’ve won it all here means everything to me. And I want to be an example to girls everywhere that if I can win it all, no dream is too big for you.
“One of the happiest days of my life was bringing that trophy home and seeing thousands of you there celebrating with us. The scenes, the noise, the love from everyone who came out to celebrate us – that’s something I’ll never forget. We fought for that and we earned it and we enjoyed every minute. Even if some of you probably won’t let me near a microphone again after it…
“But more than any trophy or achievement, it’s been the connection with all of you supporters that made this place so special for me.
“You’ve seen me at my best and at my worst. You’ve seen the passion, the emotion that I have and how competitive I am, but you’ve always appreciated the different, softer side of me off the pitch and that’s meant the world to me too.”
She concluded: “After more than a decade, it’s time for a new chapter to begin this summer for me.”
The club statement included a quote from director of women’s football Clare Wheatley.
“Over more than a decade at Arsenal, Katie has made a significant and lasting contribution to the history and success of our football club,” she said.
“Katie has led with passion and commitment, giving everything for the badge and forging a special bond with our supporters.
“She departs as a club legend and we are so proud of our shared journey together.”
Meanwhile, striker Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea when her contract expires at the end of the season.
The Australian is currently one short of matching Chelsea’s record goalscorer Fran Kirby, having netted 115 times in 157 appearances for the club since joining in January 2020.
Kerr has been one of the stars of a trophy-laden spell for the Blues, twice winning the WSL Golden Boot and helping the side to five league titles, three FA Cups, and three League Cups.
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'Club legend': Katie McCabe to leave Arsenal
IRELAND CAPTAIN KATIE McCabe is leaving Arsenal after 11 years with the club.
The 30-year-old will depart upon her contract expiration, meaning Saturday’s trip to face Liverpool at Anfield will be her farewell match.
The wide player, who has made 305 appearances and scored 37 goals since signing from Shelbourne in December 2015, has won every trophy available in her time with the club.
Last season, she added the Champions League to a list of honours which includes the Women’s Super League, the FA Cup, three League Cups, and the FIFA Champions Cup, which was claimed in February.
Barcelona left-back Ona Battle is expected to sign for Arsenal, but there had been recent indications that talks over a late deal were ongoing between the club and McCabe.
The Dubliner was also said to be on the radar of several other clubs, with The Athletic reporting interest from WSL rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as from America’s NWSL, in recent months.
McCabe said in a statement published on the Arsenal website: “I’ve gone back and forth on how to write this because honestly, it’s a huge chapter of my life closing and there are so many people and moments that mean so much to me.
“I arrived at Arsenal as a young girl from Dublin in 2015, not really knowing what to expect – just knowing I wanted to be here. Over time, it became so much more than football. It became home.
“We’ve been through everything together. The early days trying to find my place, the loan spell that changed a lot for me, and then coming back and finally feeling like I belonged here.”
McCabe has been a permanent fixture for Arsenal through the years, predominantly at left-back, but she has excelled while filling in at centre-back on numerous occasions this season.
After a 2016 FA Cup medal and a loan spell with Glasgow City in 2017, she became a regular under manager Joe Montemurro, winning the 2018 League Cup and 2019 WSL title.
The Arsenal statement hailed “Katie’s passion and spirited style, cementing her place as a firm favourite on the terraces”.
She was voted Player of the Season in 2020/21 and again in 2022/23, a year in which the Gunners won another League Cup and made a memorable run to the semi-finals of the Champions League, with McCabe named in the tournament’s Team of the Season.
Another League Cup win followed in 2024 before the 2025 Champions League triumph, where McCabe lined out at left-back in the 1-0 win over Barcelona.
Last week, she was announced as the Arsenal Player of the Month for April.
“Winning the Champions League is something I genuinely don’t think anything will ever top,” McCabe continued.
“If 10-year-old me could see what this journey became, she’d be so proud. To say I’ve won it all here means everything to me. And I want to be an example to girls everywhere that if I can win it all, no dream is too big for you.
“One of the happiest days of my life was bringing that trophy home and seeing thousands of you there celebrating with us. The scenes, the noise, the love from everyone who came out to celebrate us – that’s something I’ll never forget. We fought for that and we earned it and we enjoyed every minute. Even if some of you probably won’t let me near a microphone again after it…
“But more than any trophy or achievement, it’s been the connection with all of you supporters that made this place so special for me.
She concluded: “After more than a decade, it’s time for a new chapter to begin this summer for me.”
The club statement included a quote from director of women’s football Clare Wheatley.
“Over more than a decade at Arsenal, Katie has made a significant and lasting contribution to the history and success of our football club,” she said.
“Katie has led with passion and commitment, giving everything for the badge and forging a special bond with our supporters.
“She departs as a club legend and we are so proud of our shared journey together.”
Meanwhile, striker Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea when her contract expires at the end of the season.
The Australian is currently one short of matching Chelsea’s record goalscorer Fran Kirby, having netted 115 times in 157 appearances for the club since joining in January 2020.
Kerr has been one of the stars of a trophy-laden spell for the Blues, twice winning the WSL Golden Boot and helping the side to five league titles, three FA Cups, and three League Cups.
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