Jen Beattie signs new contract

We are delighted to announce that Jen Beattie has signed a new contract here with Arsenal.

Jen played a key role for us last season, making a significant contribution on and off the pitch as we won the FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup, reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and secured qualification for the 2023/24 edition of that competition.

The 32-year-old central defender has served us with distinction over two spells in North London. Jen first joined us in 2009, winning one league title, two FA Cups and two League Cups during this time before departing in 2013. The Scot then returned to Arsenal in 2019, after stints with Montpellier, Manchester City and Melbourne City.

In total, Jen has made 157 appearances for us, scoring 32 goals along the way. Her most recent goal for us came in that UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg, played in front of a sell-out Emirates Stadium crowd.

Jen was presented with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award in 2021, for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, while Jen was also awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List 2023 for services to football and charity. We were all very proud to see Jen receive these accolades.

In addition to her on-field role, Jen worked with our commercial and partnerships teams and took up a mentoring role with our academy players last season. Jen will continue to collaborate across other areas of the club over the season ahead, as well as taking on increased responsibility within the football department as Performance Lifestyle Lead.

“I’m so happy to have signed a new contract,” said Jen. “I’m happy here. I love the club. I love the group of people I work with – the players, the staff, everybody behind the team. The way the club has progressed over the last few seasons has been great to see and it was amazing to lift a trophy again last season and achieve that level of success as a team. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together next year.”

Head Coach Jonas Eidevall added: “Jen is a model professional and I am delighted that she will continue to be part of our squad next season. Her contribution on and off the pitch last year was outstanding – she stepped up time and again when called upon and set an example for others to follow. I’m proud to coach her and I know our supporters will join me in celebrating the news that Jen will remain an Arsenal player next year.”

Head of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley said: “Jen has been a fantastic servant to Arsenal and brings us so much in terms of experience and character. She made a really important contribution to the team on the pitch last season and we are all very pleased to say she will continue to represent this club next year.”