Arsenal have confirmed that defender Jen Beattie has signed a contract extension keeping her at the Gunners for the 2023/24 season.

The Scotland legend was diagnosed with cancer in 2020 but she confirmed that she was free of the disease earlier this year. She did not stop playing throughout her cancer battle, having made 13 appearances in the Women’s Super League last season, as well as lifting the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup. After putting pen to paper on a new deal, Beattie said she is delighted to be staying with the North London club:

“I’m so happy to have signed a new contract, 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.”

Beattie has made 157 appearances for Arsenal across two spells. After arriving from Celtic in 2009, she won three consecutive league titles with the Gunners, in addition to the Women’s FA Cup and League Cup.

The centre-half then went on to play for Montpellier and Manchester City, winning more trophies before agreeing a return to London in the summer of 2019.

Arsenal are gearing up for a title challenge

Beattie is clearly excited to stay with the Gunners and it’s not hard to see why with the squad that manager Jonas Eidevall is constructing ahead of the 2023/24 Women’s Super League campaign.

The likes of Amanda Ilestedt and Cloe Lacasse have already signed, while there is growing speculation that Manchester United’s Alessia Russo will soon follow suit. There is a great deal of hope that Arsenal can win their first title since 2018/19.