Ireland international, Katie McCabe has joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Arsenal.
McCabe announced in May that she was leaving Arsenal after 11 years when her contract expires on 30 June, and has now signed a three-year contract at Chelsea with an option to extend for a further year.
The 30-year-old left-sided player who can play in left back, left midfielder and left winger positions is ready for a fresh challenge as she explained her decision to join Chelsea.
“Look, for me, having spent 10 years at a club like Arsenal has been amazing in a sense, but for me, I achieved all I could achieve with them,’ she says with honesty. ‘At this point in my career, I’m ready for a new start, a new challenge, and a new chapter.
“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.
“That’s something I’m really passionate about. Having played against Chelsea for so long, I know their ambitions and their winning mentality. I’m still ready for that at this point in my career, and I feel I can give a lot to the club and the fans. I’m so excited to get going.”
McCabe also added that she wants to take on a leadership role in West London and help the club create new success after a disappointing season saw them win only the Women’s League Cup title.
“I’m at a stage in my career where I’ve grown into a very strong leadership role, from being at Arsenal but also being captain of Ireland for so long. I think those attributes say a lot about me as a player and as a person.
‘”I like to drive standards on and off the pitch. I like to get around the younger players and really try to get the best out of them and understand them.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working so hard throughout my career. That’s what I really relate to going into a club like Chelsea: the passion that all the players have for the club and their ambition to drive it forward. That’s something I want to be a part of as well.”
McCabe often found herself involved in many classics against Chelsea across her time at Arsenal and she is relishing being on the oppositional side from next season.
“Matches against Chelsea have been some of the best battles from my time at Arsenal,’ reflected McCabe on facing Chelsea as a Gunner. “That London rivalry has been something that’s grown over the course of the last 10 years.
“Being at a club like Chelsea, we have character in abundance here. That’s one of the main things that I’ve related to. You’re able to express yourself and be yourself and show the passion on the pitch.
“I always wear my heart on my sleeve when I’m playing, and I’m just really excited to show that in a blue shirt going forward.”
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