KATIE MCCABE IS in line for a sensational move to Chelsea.
As first reported by BBC Sport and Arseblog News, The 42 understands the Ireland captain is set to join Arsenal’s London rivals.
McCabe spent over a decade at Arsenal, winning every title possible – including the Champions League – and making 306 appearances.
The 30-year-old left-back departs at the end of her contract, as the club announced earlier this month. The Gunners reportedly did not offer her a new deal in January, but made a late U-turn and McCabe ultimately decided to pursue a new challenge.
That appears to be at fellow WSL heavyweights Chelsea, the club she supported in childhood.
McCabe – who has also been linked with domestic double champions Manchester City – was previously subject to a “substantial” bid from Chelsea in January 2023, but can now join on a free transfer.
It’s believed the interest stretches back to before she first signed for Arsenal as a 20-year-old from Shelbourne in 2015.
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NWSL links were also widely reported, but McCabe was always likely to stay in England. She recently bought a house in London, where she lives with her partner and former teammate Caitlin Foord. The Australian international is reportedly set to renew with Arsenal.
McCabe has always embraced the intense Arsenal-Chelsea rivalry, but was recently at the centre of a high-profile hair-pull incident. Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor was incensed as she went unpunished after appearing to grab Alyssa Thompson’s hair in the closing stages of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final win last month.
Katie McCabe spent over a decade at the Gunners. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
McCabe has since apologised for the incident, which Chelsea jokingly reenacted during their walkout as they won the World Sevens Series on Saturday. Bompastor’s side finished third in the WSL, having been denied a seventh title in succession by City, but secured Champions League qualification for 2026/27.
One of their left-backs, Sandy Baltimore, recently signed a new long-term contract, while The Athletic are reporting that Niamh Charles is set to move to City. McCabe is a versatile player who has recently filled in at centre-back.
The reaction of both sets of fans to the expected switch will be interesting to observe, with her Arsenal legacy potentially viewed differently in some quarters.
The Dubliner was absent from the club’s Premier League and Women’s Champions Cup title parade on Sunday afternoon. She helped the Gunners to that silverware after the 2024/25 Champions League success, while she also played her part in WSL (2018/19), FA Cup (2016) and League Cup (2017/18, 2022/23 and 2023/24) triumphs.
She was nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2023, named on the Champions League Team of the Season in 2022/23, the PFA edition in 2021, and was crowned Arsenal Player of the Year in ’21 and ’23.
McCabe will captain Ireland in their final 2027 World Cup group qualifiers against the Netherlands on Friday and France next Tuesday, where direct qualification remains a possibility. Carla Ward’s side began their preparations at Fota Island Resort on Sunday.
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Katie McCabe set to join Chelsea after Arsenal exit
KATIE MCCABE IS in line for a sensational move to Chelsea.
As first reported by BBC Sport and Arseblog News, The 42 understands the Ireland captain is set to join Arsenal’s London rivals.
McCabe spent over a decade at Arsenal, winning every title possible – including the Champions League – and making 306 appearances.
The 30-year-old left-back departs at the end of her contract, as the club announced earlier this month. The Gunners reportedly did not offer her a new deal in January, but made a late U-turn and McCabe ultimately decided to pursue a new challenge.
That appears to be at fellow WSL heavyweights Chelsea, the club she supported in childhood.
McCabe – who has also been linked with domestic double champions Manchester City – was previously subject to a “substantial” bid from Chelsea in January 2023, but can now join on a free transfer.
It’s believed the interest stretches back to before she first signed for Arsenal as a 20-year-old from Shelbourne in 2015.
NWSL links were also widely reported, but McCabe was always likely to stay in England. She recently bought a house in London, where she lives with her partner and former teammate Caitlin Foord. The Australian international is reportedly set to renew with Arsenal.
McCabe has always embraced the intense Arsenal-Chelsea rivalry, but was recently at the centre of a high-profile hair-pull incident. Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor was incensed as she went unpunished after appearing to grab Alyssa Thompson’s hair in the closing stages of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final win last month.
McCabe has since apologised for the incident, which Chelsea jokingly reenacted during their walkout as they won the World Sevens Series on Saturday. Bompastor’s side finished third in the WSL, having been denied a seventh title in succession by City, but secured Champions League qualification for 2026/27.
One of their left-backs, Sandy Baltimore, recently signed a new long-term contract, while The Athletic are reporting that Niamh Charles is set to move to City. McCabe is a versatile player who has recently filled in at centre-back.
The reaction of both sets of fans to the expected switch will be interesting to observe, with her Arsenal legacy potentially viewed differently in some quarters.
The Dubliner was absent from the club’s Premier League and Women’s Champions Cup title parade on Sunday afternoon. She helped the Gunners to that silverware after the 2024/25 Champions League success, while she also played her part in WSL (2018/19), FA Cup (2016) and League Cup (2017/18, 2022/23 and 2023/24) triumphs.
She was nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2023, named on the Champions League Team of the Season in 2022/23, the PFA edition in 2021, and was crowned Arsenal Player of the Year in ’21 and ’23.
McCabe will captain Ireland in their final 2027 World Cup group qualifiers against the Netherlands on Friday and France next Tuesday, where direct qualification remains a possibility. Carla Ward’s side began their preparations at Fota Island Resort on Sunday.
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Katie McCabe On the Move WSL