'It's been difficult over the last few months,' Ireland captain Katie McCabe opens up on Arsenal exit

The Dubliner has penned a three-year deal with Chelsea. 

BLUE IS THE COLOUR: Ireland skipper Katie McCabe, who has signed for Chelsea. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher

Ireland captain Katie McCabe says she’s relishing her new venture at Chelsea after what she admits was a difficult end to her decade at Arsenal.

The Gunners were only prepared to offer the 30-year-old a 12-month extension when her deal lapsed this month, explaining why she allowed her agents to consider alternative offers from the best clubs in the world.

Recently crowned WSL champions Manchester City were keen to land the Dubliner but by penning a three-year deal with Chelsea, who have the option of another year on the deal, she remains settled in London.

Social media reaction against the Ireland skipper has been fierce but her parents, Sharon and Gary, have both laid the blame for her departure at the club she initially joined from Raheny United in 2015.

McCabe, speaking in Cork ahead of Ireland’s penultimate World Cup qualifier against Netherlands at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, expressed her relief at clarifying her future in advance of the international window that concludes away to France in Grenoble next Tuesday.

“It's no secret that I was coming into the last year with my contract,” explained the left-sided player.

“From January onwards, there were conversations naturally.

“Over the course of the last few weeks and months, everything kind of got sorted out, which was really positive.” “For me, having spent 10 or 11 years at a football club like Arsenal was amazing.

“Growing up there, learning so much as a player and as a person, I've got a lot of respect for every single person back at the club and all my teammates.

“Of course, it's been difficult over the last few months for me, but I think it's the right time now for a new chapter in my career.

“It was coming to the end of a journey. You’d naturally find it hard leaving somewhere after 10 years but your time comes.

“Now, it’s time for something new, and that’s what I’m really excited for.” 

She added about her move to the Blues, who had won the WSL six years in a year before being deposed by City: “Having spoken with the manager Sonia Bompastor a couple of months back, I understood what she wanted and the project she was trying to create at Chelsea so I wanted to be part of that.

“I empathise a lot, obviously, with the Arsenal fans at the minute because it's not an easy thing to see a player that's spent so long at a club going to a rival club.

“But at the same time, I need to put myself first. This was the best case for me. I know I'm 30 now, but I still feel I'm in a really good place in my career. I feel like I've still got a lot to give.

“Chelsea have had so much success over the last few years so I want to continue to compete at the top and win trophies and be part of something really special.” 

Ireland manager Carla Ward reported a fully fit squad for the meeting with the table-toppers, only missing suspended duo Denise O’Sullivan and Emily Murphy.