West Ham United announce departure of captain Flaherty | OneFootball

West Ham United captain Gilly Flaherty will leave the club at the end of her contract this summer according to reports on The Hammers’ official website.

The 30-year-old former Arsenal and Chelsea centre-back has been a member of the West Ham United squad ever since they turned full-time back in 2018.

Flaherty has spent four seasons with The Hammers, leading the club to the 2018/2019 Vitality Women’s FA Cup final along with a handful of solid finishes in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League. Flaherty has been a member of a West Ham United side who have recorded a first top half of the table finish this season and she recently passed the 100-appearance mark for the East London club.

After her departure was announced, Flaherty said “It was an honour to be named the first captain of a professional West Ham women’s team.

“I have so many incredible memories from my time in Claret and Blue, from reaching the FA Cup final in our first season to playing at London Stadium. Away from the pitch, I have made friends for life, and I am going to miss coming into training at Chadwell Heath every day.

“I want to say a huge thank you to the West Ham United fans who accepted me as one of their own from the very first day and have supported both me and the team through every high and every low. Even though my playing time with this Club has come to an end, I am a Hammer for life.”

Flaherty’s next career move is unknown but it would be no surprise to see her representing another Barclays FA Women’s Super League club next season.