Molly Bartrip has left Tottenham Hotspur Women after a two-decade-long history with the club. The centre-back has joined Crystal Palace on a permanent transfer for an undisclosed fee.
Bartrip represented Spurs 114 times. Part of her youth career was also spent at Tottenham, who she first played for aged 10 in the mid-2000s. After time in Charlton and Arsenal’s youth setups, Bartrip returned to Spurs at senior level from Reading, who she signed for in 2014.
Bartrip will be reunited with familiar faces at her new club. Former captain Bethany England joined the Eagles this summer. Furthermore, Bartrip played alongside manager Jo Potter whilst at Reading.
Confirming her arrival in south London, Bartrip said: “It feels amazing to join Crystal Palace! The building’s incredible, the people that I’ve met have been so warm, and I’m really excited to be here.”
Potter said: “Molly brings WSL pedigree to the club; she adds real quality and composure to our back line.”
The defender paid tribute to Spurs in an emotional Instagram post. Spurs posted a lovely tribute gallery on the website
Without Molly Bartrip and Beth England, Who Will be Captain?
Molly Bartrip has been an anchor in the Tottenham side for years. She was twice a WSL ever-present, playing every single minute of her 2021/2022 debut season, and repeating the feat in 2024/25. She also captained the side on numerous occasions, whilst serving as a vice captain.
Indeed, Barrip’s exit, alongside that of England, has left a gap in the leadership ranks of Tottenham Hotspur Women. The club have not announced a new skipper. I understand that there will be no decision until after the team’s pre-season camp in Spain.
Drew Spence is an obvious contender, and has worn the armband several times before. However, it would not be that surprising if Martin Ho picked a more left-field candidate. Eveliina Summanen? Lize Kop? Olivia Holdt?