It has been rumoured that Arsenal women have triggered contract extensions for Mariona Caldentey and Kyra Cooney-Cross, both of which run until 2027.
This has yet to be confirmed by the clubs or the players’ representatives. Their original contract expires this summer, so they could start speaking to new clubs from the beginning of January. This trigger prevents this from happening. This is possibly why it has been done to ensure they retain the players at least to the end of the season.
Though one could wonder why they have not given them a new contract which would stretch multiple years.
This means that, in their initial contract with the club, there was an element that, if the club wanted the player's contract for another year, it would not need to go through a contract signing. But this is also something the club can only trigger, and it's not guaranteed to happen if it's written into the contract.
But what do these players bring to make them so valuable?
Caldentey does not just bring Champions League pedigree; she is the core of Arsenal's starting XI. She is exceptionally versatile, creative and has a strong work ethic. She has been described as the playermaker in midfield, contributing significantly to both offence and defence, especially this season, when she has played deeper since the departure of Lia Walti.
Unusually for a primarily attacking player, she has elite defensive stats, ranking in the 96th percentile for tackles and 93rd for interceptions per 90 minutes. She leads her team in tackles and interceptions, contributing significantly to winning the ball back high up the pitch. In her debut season (2024/25), she was named the WSL Player of the Season. She netted 19 goals and provided 10 assists across all competitions for Arsenal, making her the club's joint-highest goal contributor. In the Women's Super League (WSL), she recorded 9 goals and 5 assists.
Caldentey was the most creative player in the WSL from open play, creating the most chances (43) and having the highest expected assists (xA) (6.9) in the league, a stat that would have been higher if not for teammates' finishing. Having won 25 trophies in 10 years with Barcelona (including three Champions League titles) and the 2023 World Cup with Spain, she brought a proven winning mentality to an Arsenal side looking to compete for major silverware.
Kyra Cooney-Cross brings youth to the oldest WSL starting XI this season. She boasts a high passing accuracy, with a rate of 89.3% in her first full WSL season and as high as 93% in some individual matches, demonstrating her reliability in possession. She was Arsenal's best dribbler in her debut season, with a remarkable 75% successful dribble rate (2.5 successful dribbles per 90 minutes), highlighting her skill in tight spaces.
She excels at progressing the ball from defence to attack, using a strong passing range and dynamic dribbling to drive the team forward and break down opposition defences. Her tireless energy and commitment in central midfield help her win the ball back and support attacks, making her a crucial component in Arsenal's high-pressing system. She is known for her skill at taking corners and free-kicks, which adds another dimension to Arsenal's attacking threat.
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