IRELAND INTERNATIONAL KATIE McCabe has sealed her move from Arsenal to Chelsea.
The 30-year-old spent 10 and a half years with the Gunners, winning the Women’s Super League, the FA Cup, the Champions League, the Champions Cup and three League Cups during that time.
As previously reported by The 42, the ex-Raheny United youngster will officially join the Blues on 1 July, when her Arsenal contract expires.
The Dubliner, who is currently in the Ireland camp preparing for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with the Netherlands and France, expressed her delight at completing the move to the side who finished the 2025–26 Women’s Super League season in third place, two points behind runners-up Arsenal.
“I’m really excited to get going and show the Chelsea fans how ready I am to perform for the badge,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to walking out at Stamford Bridge as a home player, being around the fan base and competing for trophies on all fronts.
“This club has been successful for so many years. I want to keep pushing and driving that, and for me, it’s about bringing that success back to Chelsea.”
Reigning WSL champions Man City were also linked with McCabe, while Chelsea originally tried to sign the Kilnamanagh native in 2015 before she joined Arsenal, and they also reportedly had a “substantial” bid rejected for the Ireland star in 2023.
It is a timely boost for Chelsea. Of their alternative options at full-back, Niamh Charles has been heavily linked with a move to Man City, while England international Lucy Bronze is out of contract this summer.
McCabe, who in 2023 became the first Irish player to earn a Ballon D’Or nomination since Roy Keane in 2000, has 34 goals in 105 caps for her country.
Earlier today, Ireland boss Carla Ward backed McCabe’s move, calling her “the best left-back in the world” and saying “any team will be lucky to have her”.
Written by Paul Fennessy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.