Jen Beattie has signed a new contract with Arsenal that will see her take up a mentoring role with the club’s academy as well as carrying on playing.
Beattie, who returned to Arsenal in 2019 after previously playing for them from 2009 to 2013, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2020 but continued to play.
The 31-year-old is now cancer-free and she won the Helen Rollason Award at last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year in recognition of her speaking out and urging others to get screened.
Beattie this morning continued her remarkable comeback by signing a new contract with Arsenal, which will see her combine off-field duties with playing.
New contract. New role. Same focus.@JBeattie91’s Arsenal journey continues ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bnaSKYLygs
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) June 7, 2022
The defender will take up a mentoring role with Arsenal’s academy and also contribute her expertise to the club’s commercial and partnerships teams on an ongoing basis.
“I’ve really enjoyed the past three seasons, but I’ve still got so much to achieve as part of this club and I’m excited to extend,” said Beattie.
“This is the club that gave me my first real opportunity in football – I was an 18-year-old kid coming down here initially and obviously I’ve gone on and played elsewhere in between, but to be a part of it now… it’s close to home and it’s a special club.
“Being a part of the players and the staff we have, I really feel this is a club going in the right direction.”
