Katie McCabe, 30, Republic of Ireland captain, has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea, effective July 1, after leaving Arsenal where she spent 11 years [1, 2, 3, 4].
McCabe's contract with Arsenal expires on July 1, 2026, when she will formally join Chelsea on a deal that includes an option for a fourth year [2, 3, 4]. Chelsea officially announced the signing on June 1 [2, 4].
She made 305 appearances and scored 36 goals for Arsenal during her long tenure, winning multiple trophies including the 2025 Champions League, the 2019 Women’s Super League title, three League Cups, the FA Cup, and the FIFA Champions Cup in February 2026 [1, 3]. McCabe has earned 105 caps for Ireland and has served as captain since 2017 [3].
Chelsea’s interest in McCabe dates back to 2015, when they first tried to sign her but she remained at Arsenal. The club made another bid in 2023, which Arsenal rejected [1]. Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor’s ambition played a role in McCabe’s decision to move, as she mentioned "having had talks with Sonia and the club, I really got to grips with their ambitions, how they want to drive it and the direction they want to go in" [1, 3].
McCabe said she is excited about her new challenge: "It's a new chapter in my career. This is something that I feel I'm ready for right now. I'm really excited to get going and show the Chelsea fans how ready I am to perform for the badge. I’m so looking forward to walking out at Stamford Bridge as a home player, being around the fan base and competing for trophies on all fronts" [2]. She also noted, "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" [3].
Chelsea narrowly missed out on the WSL title this past season, finishing behind Manchester City [1, 2, 4]. McCabe’s arrival aims to push the club toward winning trophies.
McCabe’s full transfer will be completed on July 1, 2026, when her Arsenal contract ends and her Chelsea contract officially begins [2, 3, 4].
