Arsenal have confirmed that Katie Reid has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament, a devastating blow for the 19-year-old who had established herself in the first team this season and recently received her first England call-up.
Reid forced her way into the starting line-up earlier in the campaign ahead of Lotte Wubben-Moy and Laia Codina following Leah Williamson’s knee surgery, earning widespread praise for her composure and defensive maturity. Her progress has now been halted by the injury, which occurred in training last week.
It follows a string of similar setbacks for Arsenal this season. Goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger suffered the same injury in training earlier this season, while Michelle Agyemang ruptured her ACL while on international duty with England.
Reid withdrew from the England squad last month with a groin issue and made a late substitute appearance in the 4-1 win over Leicester last weekend before sustaining the more serious injury in training.
“It’s always horrible, especially for her,” the manager, Renée Slegers, said. “She started the season so well for us. With her age, how mature she has been, how she’s been in the group and how she has grown every single day, it is very disappointing for her. It’s very hard.
“She’s been with us in the last couple of days and surgery is planned. She will move forward from there. She said she will use this time to grow as a footballer, which says everything about Katie.
“It’s hard because it’s one little moment and you’re out for nine to 12 months and it impacts a player’s career. We need to keep on doing research because the game is growing and changing so fast and we need to move with that change.”
The news is a significant setback for both player and club. Reid had been one of the standout stories of the season, rising rapidly through the ranks to become a reliable figure in Arsenal’s defence.
She is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign as she begins her rehabilitation with a view to returning for the 2026–27 season.