Steph Catley has put pen to paper to sign a new contract that will keep her at Arsenal at least beyond the end of next season.

The Australian international played an important role at left back and then left wing back (as well as doing a job in the centre of defence) in the recently concluded 2022/23 campaign, playing 32 times as Arsenal finished third in the WSL and won the Conti Cup as well as reaching the Champions League semi finals.

Catley, 29, has been at Arsenal since 2020 and signed a new contract back in March last year to extend her stay in North London for “the coming years”.

Another new deal firmly cements her role at the club for the considerable future- it’s worth noting that Catley’s partner Dean Bouzanis also moved over from Australia a few months after she joined the Gunners- Bouzanis currently plays for Reading, where he is under contract until 2025.

Arsenal will be glad to have done the deal before this summer’s World Cup, which sees Catley, as well as Arsenal forward Caitlin Foord, step out on home turf, with Australia and New Zealand hosting the tournament. This will be Catley’s third World Cup for her country, but for her, Arsenal “feels like home”. 

“I’ve made some incredible friendships here and when the offer came around I knew exactly what I wanted to do and exactly where I wanted to be”, said Catley. 

“I’ve never been happier playing football and I feel like this team is very special – we’re building something special and in the future we’re capable of achieving anything.”

That’s right. Steph Catley finally gets her first goal for the gunners in a typical fashion. pic.twitter.com/ViZUOVIMjW

— AWFCLIPS (@awfclips) November 10, 2021

When Catley signed that new deal in March 2022 Jonas Eidevall labelled her as one of the best defenders in the world, and there was no change in the Arsenal head coach’s view this time. “Steph is one of the best defenders in the game and brings so much to this group both on and off the pitch. She’s a model professional and has delivered time and again when called upon throughout my time here, so we’re all pleased to say Steph will continue to be a part of Arsenal for years to come.”

Head of Women’s Football Clare Wheatley added “It’s great news that Steph has signed a new deal here at Arsenal. Steph is one of the top players in the world in her position and has been such a consistent performer in the time she has been here. She is a key part of this team and we’re delighted to say she will continue to wear the Arsenal colours moving forward.”