Decorated Arsenal player, former Scottish international signs with club through 2025 season
San Francisco (Feb. 2, 2024) – Bay FC, the Bay Area’s new women’s professional soccer franchise in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), have acquired the rights to Scottish defender Jen Beattie through a transfer with Arsenal of the Women’s Super League (WSL) in exchange for a transfer fee, the club announced today. Following the transfer, the defender was signed to a contract through the 2025 season with an option for the 2026 campaign. She will join the team and be added to the roster pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Beattie will occupy an international roster spot.
“On the field, Jen has won everywhere she has played in Europe and has been a mainstay at one of the top women’s clubs in the world, helping set the standard for both club and country. As a central defender with excellent on ball ability and range of pass, Jen allows us to play the brand of football we want in building out from the back and controlling the game with ball” said Bay FC General Manager Lucy Rushton. “In defense, Jen is an intelligent, composed defender with a commanding presence and no-nonsense attitude. With her experience and leadership both on and off the field, she will help set the winning culture at our club, and her addition to the team is a really significant one.”
A decorated player in Europe, playing in England, Scotland and France, Beattie most recently concluded her second stint with Arsenal. She spent time with the North London club from 2009-13 and then returned in June 2019. During her time at Arsenal, Beattie appeared in 135 WSL games, making 111 starts with 13 goals and two assists. Throughout her career in Europe, she won the Women’s Premier League (2008-09), three FA Women’s Continental Cups (2010-11, 2011-12, 2018-19), four Women’s FA Cups (2010-11, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2018-19) and the 2015-16 WSL title.
Beattie began her professional career at the age of 15 in the Scottish Women’s Premier League with Queen’s Park FC in 2007 before signing with Celtic Ladies in Jan. 2008. She also spent time in France with Montpellier of the French Division 1 Feminine from 2013-15 before making the move back to England and joining Manchester City Women in 2015. Beattie played for Manchester City until 2019 before returning to Arsenal. Notably in 2015-16 on loan with Melbourne City FC in Australia, she helped guide the club to the W-League Premiership and Championship title.
Announcing her retirement from international competition in Jan. 2023, Beattie concluded a career with the Scotland Women’s National Team that spanned 15 years, registering 142 caps and 24 goals during that span. The midfielder debuted at the age of 16 and helped Scotland qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup – scoring in a 3-3 draw with Argentina, while helping the team qualify for the 2017 UEFA Women’s European Championships, which was the team’s first major tournament.
Jen Beattie
Position: Defender
Height: 5-8
Birthdate: May 13, 1991
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
Previous Club: Arsenal (WSL)
Citizenship: Scotland
Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC’s inaugural season and new merchandise can be purchased at BayFC.com. Fans can also follow @wearebayfc on social channels for more exciting announcements to come.
About Bay Football Club
Bay Football Club (Bay FC) is the new women’s professional soccer franchise representing the Bay Area and the 14th team to join the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Bay FC was established in April 2023 and co-founded by USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Leslie Osborne, Danielle Slaton, and Aly Wagner in partnership with global investment firm Sixth Street and an investor group of leading tech, business and sports executives. Sixth Street’s investment is the largest institutional investment to date in a women’s professional sports franchise. Bay FC is changing the face of women’s soccer as we know it. Beginning play in the 2024 season, we are building a squad that will play the beautiful game with power, passion, energy, and creativity. Ticket deposits are now open for Bay FC at https://bayfc.com and fans can follow Bay FC’s social channels (@wearebayfc) for the latest news, merchandise, and events.
