Carla Ward, the manager of the Republic of Ireland, has praised Katie McCabe, stating that the defender would be a “great addition to any team globally” as she is about to join Chelsea.
After an impressive 11-year tenure at Arsenal, McCabe has decided to leave the club following the completion of her contract.
Advertisement
The 30-year-old is preparing to transfer to Chelsea, who secured her services over Manchester City for the adaptable left-back position.
McCabe joined Arsenal in 2015 and is considered one of the club’s all-time greats during the Women’s Super League (WSL) era.
She was instrumental in leading the team to the league title in 2019 and played a crucial role in Arsenal’s historic Champions League victory in 2025 and the Fifa Champions Cup title last summer.
While Ward refrained from commenting directly on McCabe’s new move, she emphasized that the player, who will lead Ireland in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Netherlands and France, is an exceptional talent.
Advertisement
“I’ve mentioned this multiple times; she is undoubtedly the best left-back in the world,” Ward stated. “In every single WSL team of the year last year, her name appeared without fail. Katie will integrate seamlessly into any team, and any club would be fortunate to have her.”
[BBC]
Check out the Women’s Football Weekly podcast featuring Ben Haines, Ellen White, and Jen Beattie. New episodes are released every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, along with interviews and additional content from the Women’s Super League and more.