Katie McCabe will leave Arsenal on a free transfer this summer despite the club making a late attempt to keep her.
Telegraph Sport reported last week that Arsenal were weighing up whether to make an about-turn on McCabe’s future after previously deciding they would allow her to depart at the end of the season.
It is understood that Arsenal did make McCabe an offer to stay, but the defender has taken the decision to pursue a new challenge.
“I grew up here,” McCabe wrote in an Instagram post. “I built something to be proud of here. I’ve achieved every major trophy here, and it’s shaped me as a player and as a person.
“But more than any trophy or achievement, it’s been the connection with all of you supporters that made this place so special for me.
“You’ve seen me at my best and at my worst. You’ve seen the passion, the emotional that I have and how competitive I am, but you’ve always appreciated the different, softer side of me off the pitch and that’s meant the world to me too.
“After more than a decade, it’s time for a new chapter to begin this summer for me.”
There is plenty of interest in the left-back, with Manchester City one of the clubs interested.
McCabe’s departure comes after it was announced earlier this week that Beth Mead will also be leaving the club at the end of the season. Like McCabe, Mead is out of contract in the summer. Telegraph Sport understands Mead’s departure was a mutual decision by the forward and the club.
Respectful talks over a new contract took place, with Arsenal open to Mead staying in an adapted first-team role, but it is understood the forward has other offers which will provide greater long-term security.
The situation with McCabe is slightly different. It became apparent in January that Arsenal would allow McCabe to leave at the end of her contract, but that stance changed in recent months.
The defender has shown versatility this season, having played centre-back on numerous occasions as well as her preferred left-back role. That did not go unnoticed by key figures at Arsenal.
Talks between the two parties were continuing as recently as Monday but Arsenal’s offer was ultimately turned down.
Arsenal gave Mead and their other departing players a send off at the Emirates in what was their final home game of the season on Wednesday night. McCabe was visibly emotional at full time, with the decision over her future having come not long before the game took place.
It is understood McCabe’s departure has been announced now so she can say goodbye to Arsenal’s fans in their final game of the season at Liverpool on Saturday.
McCabe won every trophy available during an 11-year stint with the club.
Elsewhere, Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea on a free transfer at the end of the season. Kerr has scored 115 goals during a six-and-a-half year spell and is one goal behind Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer Fran Kirby with one Women’s Super League game remaining.
The Australian forward is likely to move to the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States.
“When I reflect on my Chelsea career and doing it for the last time [against Manchester United this Saturday], I just feel happy,” Kerr said.
“Happy that it happened, and I feel so grateful to have played for this club for six years and won as many trophies as we could.”