- Hard blow for the World Cup star at the gates of the Paris Games
- Arnold said the decision to leave West Ham was difficult
- Arnold has been one of the club’s best players recently.
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold is leaving her London club West Ham after making “one of the most difficult decisions” of her life.
Arnold, 30, has been at West Ham since 2020, but many speculated he could leave after being absent from the club’s upcoming tour of Australia.
This leaves Arnold without a club as the Matildas prepare for their first Olympic match later this month.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the Women’s World Cup star revealed how difficult the decision to leave was.
“This has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make and I wanted to have the opportunity to say a proper goodbye, while also remembering the incredible time I had at the famous Claret & Blue,” Arnold wrote.
“It’s been almost four years since I arrived at Chadwell Heath and it didn’t take me long to realise how special this club was and how much at home I felt in east London.
‘I have been lucky enough to play football in many different countries, but I am very grateful to have had this chapter at a club that means so much to me.
‘West Ham will always hold a special place in my heart. Forever Claret & Blue’.
Matildas heroine Mackenzie Arnold (pictured) is to leave West Ham after making “one of the toughest decisions” of her life
Arnold is now without a club as the Matildas prepare for their first Olympic match
Arnold’s announcement received a flurry of comments from her Australian teammates, including forward Sam Kerr, who left three messages.
‘Wait what the fuck,’ he posted, before adding: ‘What happened to London girlz 4eva?’
Kerr then posted: ‘I love you, you gotta do what you gotta do darling.’
It is not known where Arnold will move next, although there has previously been interest from Manchester United.
The news comes just a week after Matildas teammate Hayley Raso announced she had been dropped by football giants Real Madrid.
The 29-year-old is now looking for a new team after giving her fans the sad news in an Instagram post.
It’s not yet known where Arnold will land next, but he should have plenty of offers.
Raso made history as the first Australian to play for the world-famous club and has been cut as a result of limits on the number of foreign players who can star in Spain’s top-flight women’s league.
He will be one of the Paris Matildas’ biggest talents after joining coach Tony Gustavsson’s squad earlier this month.
With the team already without captain Sam Kerr due to injury, Raso is emerging as one of the key players in the team, which is also dependent on the fitness of Katrina Gorry and forward Caitlin Foord.