Maisie Symonds Signs Long-Term Deal with Brighton

Brighton have tied down their captain and standard-bearer. Maisie Symonds, the heartbeat of Albion’s midfield, has signed what the club describe as a long-term contract, a deal that underlines both her importance and Brighton’s growing ambition in the women’s game.

At 23, Symonds is already Brighton’s longest-serving player. She arrived from Chelsea in 2021, quietly at first, then steadily became impossible to ignore. Across 103 appearances in all competitions, she has grown from promising youngster into the central figure of a team trying to elbow its way into the WSL’s elite.

Coach's Praise

Head coach Dario Vidosic did not play down her influence. “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 new deal as a cornerstone of Brighton’s project. “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.”

Club's Ambition

That vision no longer feels fanciful. Brighton reached the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in May, walking out at Wembley with Symonds leading the side against Manchester City. They did not lift the trophy, but they did make a statement: this is a club intent on moving from plucky challenger to permanent contender.

Symonds’ rise has mirrored that trajectory. She has represented England up to under-21 level and earned her first senior call-up in March 2025, a nod to the authority she now brings in midfield and the maturity that has come with the armband.

Symonds' Perspective

For Symonds, the new contract is as much about belonging as ambition.

“I'm very happy. I feel so at home here,” she said. “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.

“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.”

Future Prospects

Those standards are not just about what happens between the white lines. Earlier this year, Brighton unveiled plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium, a £75-80m project that would give Symonds and her team-mates a stage to match their aspirations.

A captain committing her prime years. A club investing in its own home. A stated aim of breaking into the WSL’s top four. Brighton have drawn their line in the sand; now they have to play up to it.