Maisie Symonds Signs Long-Term Deal with Brighton to Boost WSL Ambitions

Brighton have moved to lock in the heartbeat of their women’s side, with captain Maisie Symonds signing what the club describe as a long-term contract that underlines their push towards the top of the Women’s Super League.

At 23, Symonds already feels like part of the furniture on the south coast. She arrived from Chelsea in 2021, has grown with the project, and now stands as Albion’s longest-serving player, racking up 103 appearances across all competitions. In a squad that has evolved quickly and aggressively, she is the constant.

Head Coach's Remarks

Head coach Dario Vidosic did not hide her importance.

“Maisie is a massive influence both on and off the pitch and since becoming captain last season she has developed both as a player and as a person,” he said, framing the deal as central to Brighton’s long-term vision. “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.”

That is no small target. Top four in the WSL means going toe-to-toe with the established heavyweights, but Brighton have already shown they are prepared to think big.

Symonds has been at the centre of that shift. In May, she led Brighton out at Wembley for the first Women’s FA Cup final in the club’s history, captaining the side against Manchester City. For a player who had never known another professional home, it felt like a milestone both personal and collective – proof that Brighton’s ambition is no longer just a slogan.

Her international trajectory has tracked the same upward curve. Symonds has represented England at every age group up to under-21 level and, in March 2025, earned her first senior call-up. That recognition, coming alongside her elevation to club captain, has only sharpened her sense that Brighton is the right place to keep climbing.

Symonds' Commitment

On putting pen to paper, Symonds made it clear this was not a decision taken out of comfort, but conviction.

“I'm very happy. 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.

The message was about standards as much as sentiment.

“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.”

Those words sit neatly alongside the club’s most eye-catching statement of intent away from the pitch. Earlier this year, Brighton announced plans to build Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium, a £75–80m project that would place the women’s team at the centre of its own infrastructure rather than as an add-on.

A captain tied down long term. A historic Wembley final already banked. A dedicated stadium on the horizon.

For Symonds and Brighton, this is no longer about merely belonging in the WSL. It is about how far, and how fast, they can climb.