West Ham United is delighted to confirm that Kate Longhurst has signed a new contract with the Club until 2022.
The midfielder, who joined the Hammers from Liverpool in 2018, has made 45 appearances in all competitions since moving to her childhood side, and has now committed her future to Matt Beard’s team with a new two-and-a-half-year deal.
“West Ham United is a club that is very close to my heart so it’s a big thing for me to commit my future here,” Longhurst told whufc.com. “It’s really important for me to be settled with my football and know that I’m somewhere I'll love coming to every day for the next two-and-a-half years.
This is a club that is very close to my heart, so it's a big thing for me to commit my future here
Kate Longhurst
“Within these last 18 months we’ve had some highs - obviously the FA Cup Final stands out - and we’ve also had some lows. It’s important now, over the next two years, and rest of this season, that we turn ourselves into a team that can challenge every team we’re playing against.”
Head coach Beard is delighted that Longhurst will be remaining at West Ham, noting her passion and tenacity as key attributes that the midfielder brings to his team.
“I am delighted that Kate has put pen to paper on this new deal with West Ham,” Beard said. “I have spoken before about Kate’s professionalism, drive and passion for this Club and this team, and she is a hugely important player for us both on and off the pitch.
“Kate is the embodiment of the traits we, and our supporters, hold so highly in the players and I know she will give everything for this shirt over the next two-and-a-half years.”
A lifelong West Ham fan, Longhurst’s place in the women’s team’s record books was secured in the side’s debut Women’s Super League match, scoring the Hammers’ first-ever goal in the competition. The midfielder would follow up with the team’s second goal in the WSL later in the same fixture.
The 30-year-old played in all but one of West Ham’s matches last season in all competitions and has also featured in every Irons match in the new campaign so far.
Longhurst would also go on to fulfil a career ambition of playing at Wembley Stadium with the Irons, starting in the Women’s FA Cup Final against Manchester City last May.
