It felt wrong and weird that her departure announcement was the day after the last home game at the Emirates of the season where other players like Beth Mead got their flowers, it feels wrong to not compare her in front of the home crowd after 11 years of service, But their last game of the season is all the way up in Liverpool at Anfield where she will lead the side out as Captain.
Renee Slegers, Arsenal manager, on her not having a farewell at Emirates on Wednesday, like other players: “I do understand that, and we feel the same. Like I just said, Katie is a legend of the club, and she deserved her moment with the supporters at Emirates. So we'll do everything we can to honour Katie. It doesn't take anything away from who she is or what she's done for the club. But that's something we're not happy with, and, unfortunately, she couldn't get that moment at Emirates together with the supporters, both for Katie herself but also for the supporters.”
She will always be remembered for her fierce nature, even if that got her into trouble, especially because of her desire for the game to be more physical.
She will leave on the expiration of her contract this summer, even after strong rumours in the last few weeks that the club had made a U-turn and decided to give her a new contract. The 30-year-old full-back will depart after 11 years in North London, having made 305 appearances for Arsenal and scored 37 goals. She has won the FA Cup, WSL, Champions League, Champions Cup, and League Cup, all once, and the League Cup three times.
She arrived in December 2015 with the label of the most exciting young player in Irish football and won the FA Cup in her first season, with McCabe making an immediate impact.
She returned from a loan to win the League Cup in 2017/18, then the WSL the following season, when she forged a strong connection with supporters. Her passion, leadership and spirited style cemented her place as a firm fan favourite.
She was voted Arsenal's player of the season in 2020/21 and 2022/23 and was named in the Champions League team of the season.
In May 2025, she completed the full set. She played an integral role as Arsenal secured the Champions League trophy and, in February of 2026, the first-ever FIFA Champions Cup, her last silverware for the club.
McCabe was visibly emotional following Arsenal’s 1–0 victory over Everton on Wednesday, her final match at the Emirates Stadium. Even though her departure had yet to be announced, she was visibly emotional when Arsenal beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge back in January and when they lost on aggregate to Lyon in the semi-finals of the Champions League a few weeks ago.
She said, “Thank you for the memories, the belief, the support, and the love you’ve shown me from day one.” “I’ll carry these memories with me forever.”
Known for her passionate performances, hard tackling, marauding runs down the flank and stunning long-range strikes, McCabe has been one of Arsenal’s defining players of the Women’s Super League era.
She departs having started 17 WSL games this season and leaves as one of the club’s greatest modern-era players.
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