Jen Beattie takes a deep breath. He was asked what it would be like to say goodbye to Arsenal in his second spell in North London after five years at the club.
“These are the most conflicting emotions I’ve ever felt leaving a club,” says Beattie. “They are teammates who became friends and eventually became family. This will 100 percent be the hardest thing: saying goodbye. I’m so sorry about this. “There is no denying it, there is no hiding it, I love them all very much.”
So to be persuaded to leave, it took a specific proposition: moving to the United States. The 143-cap former Scotland international has signed for Bay FC, one of two expansion clubs joining the National Women’s Soccer League, the top US women’s league, this year.
The team, based in the San Francisco Bay area, was co-founded by four former US women’s team legends including Brandi Chastain, and the club’s owners, global investment firm Sixth Street, are investing a reported $125 million (£98 million). This is the largest amount ever pledged for any women’s football team worldwide.
As they build an entirely new team, Bay FC are understood to be impressed by Beattie’s experience and see him as an important piece of the jigsaw. For Beattie, 32, who said the offer “came out of nowhere”, it was clear that this was something very important to approach at a relatively late stage in his career.
‘There are a lot of games left in the tank’
“I think the main thing for me is I don’t feel finished,” Beattie tells Telegraph Sport exclusively about his move, which was announced on Friday. “I know I have retired from international football but I still feel like I have a lot of games left in the tank.
“Contracts get shorter once you’re over 30 and you’re well aware that you’re getting older and for a club to offer that at my age they’d have to invest in a really good ‘two plus one’ contract. It’s a great feeling to feel that you’re valued and that someone still believes in your abilities. It’s a fire in me.” lit.
“It was very exciting to say ‘no’ to that. I was quite happy at Arsenal but when something came knocking on my door and I heard them [Bay FC] I was out and made all the calls, it was too good to say no.
“I’ve felt really good when I’ve had the opportunity at Arsenal over the last few seasons and I still feel competitive, I think that’s the main thing. I’m ready for the challenge and I’m very excited.”
The charm of life in California also appeals to Beattie. “I grew up watching The Hills and Laguna Beach and all those shows and absolutely fell in love with them,” he adds. “So if somewhere wants a kid from Glasgow to go and live in California, that seems like a no-brainer.”
Another part of the appeal is Mr. FC’s vision; Chastain claims that they “want to be the club and brand that changes the perception of women in sport, football and business.” The club will make its NWSL debut in March and last month also signed Venezuelan Deyna Castellanos from Manchester City and Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala from Barcelona. Beattie adds: “I’ve spoken to the owners, investors, management and all the new staff and you can really feel the excitement of being part of a great new project.
“Everyone seems to be singing the same hymn. “The fact that they want to play football, everything they want to do as a club, goes beyond the three points at the weekend.”
Taking three points is something Beattie has become accustomed to throughout his career. She won the old Women’s Premier League title with Arsenal in 2009 and 2010, then helped the North Londoners win back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012, the first two seasons of the Women’s Super League, before winning the league again with Manchester. City in 2016. She also won the FA Cup and League Cup four times and also helped Melbourne City win the Australian W-League title.
She left an indelible mark on the WSL, scoring more headed goals (nine) than any other defender in league history, according to Stats Perform. Since the WSL’s inception 13 years ago, only five players have completed more passes than her and only 13 have recorded more victories.
Having such a long life undoubtedly makes the separation even more emotional; as well as Arsenal being so supportive as she continued her playing career while being treated for breast cancer in 2020 (she is now cancer-free).
“It was Arsenal who gave me my first real opportunity when I was 18, and it was English football that made me the player and person I am. I absolutely love English football,” he says.
“But I do know that I will still be very committed to this. I love the league. I think about what will happen next year with the big acquisition [NewCo] It will be incredibly exciting. I can’t wait to see where it goes next.”