Katie McCabe is expected to leave Arsenal at the expiry of her contract this summer.
The Guardian are reporting that the 30-year-old – who has been at the club for more than a decade – is not being offered a new deal, although discussions have been friendly.
Instead, they are looking to add younger players to their squad – and the player they have pinpointed as McCabe’s potential replacement is Spain international Ona Batlle.
The report also suggests that McCabe wants to continue to be a regular starter at whatever club she is at, and that other Women’s Super League clubs and teams elsewhere are watching developments with interest.
Katie McCabe: her Arsenal career so far
McCabe signed for Arsenal in 2015 from Shelbourne. Her honours with the Gunners include a Women’s FA Cup, a Women’s Super League title, three Continental Cups (now the Subway Women’s League Cup), and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
She also started in the final of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup against Corinthians on Sunday. It was a foul from McCabe that gave away the penalty allowing the Brazilian side to equalise in added time and force extra time.
Ona Batlle: the Barcelona and Spain star
Ona Batlle was part of the Barcelona squad that lost to Arsenal in the Champions League final last season. She previously spent three years with Manchester United.
Her honours include two Liga titles, three Copas de la Reina, three Supercopas de Espana, and a UEFA Women’s Champions League crown. With Spain, she won the Women’s World Cup in 2023, beating England in the final.
She turns 27 this summer.
