Brighton captain Symonds signs new long-term contract

Brighton & Hove Albion captain Maisie Symonds has signed a new contract, described by the club as long-term. The 23-year-old midfielder, who joined from Chelsea in 2021, is Albion's longest-serving player and has made 103 appearances in all competitions.

Manager praises Symonds' development

Head coach Dario Vidosic highlighted Symonds' growth since becoming captain last season. "Maisie is a massive influence both on and off the pitch," Vidosic said. "We are thrilled that she is committing her long-term future and will be part of our vision to establish Brighton as one of the top four WSL clubs."

Symonds reflects on her journey

Symonds, who has represented England up to under-21 level and received her first senior call-up in March 2025, expressed her happiness at extending her stay. "I feel so at home here. It's the only club I've ever played for professionally and I feel I've grown so much over the last six years along with the club and the women's team," she said. "It really felt like we are setting high standards for ourselves with what we've been building in the last two years. We are starting to reach our potential, and we only want to get better and better."

Club's ambitious plans

Brighton reached the Women's FA Cup final at Wembley for the first time in May, with Symonds captaining the side against Manchester City. Earlier this year, the club announced plans to build Europe's first purpose-built women's football stadium, with a projected cost of £75-80 million. The new deal for Symonds underscores Brighton's commitment to building a competitive squad as they aim to break into the top four of the Women's Super League.