Glentoran Women General manager Billy Clarke revealed: “Glentoran Women are delighted to announce the signing of Jessica Foy on a Professional Player Contract. Jessica is the first female player in the Women’s Premiership to make this move.
“From 2015 we began the development of our first team squad with a plan to give some young players their opportunity of first team football and start winning trophies again.
“The development of the first team has led to unprecedented success. We are now in a position where we can offer players professional contracts and our success and that of our women’s national team will no doubt bring attention to our players from clubs based in the UK.”
Glentoran chairman Stephen Henderson agreed that the move represented “a truly historic moment in the development and progression of the women’s game in Northern Ireland generally and at Glentoran in particular”.
“I am delighted that our club is in a position to recognise the hard work, dedication and talent of our women footballers, by not just playing lip service to their professionalism, but by turning it into a reality.”
Analysis by BBC Sport NI’s Andy Gray:
This historic moment for Foy caps a whirlwind few months after her trophy winning exploits with Glentoran and a surprise return to the Northern Ireland squad following a Covid outbreak in the initial panel against Austria in October.
A Glentoran player through and through, it is just reward for her role in the club’s success.
It is understood many of the squad have also signed professional deals, including a number of Northern Ireland internationals who reside at the Oval.
Crucially, it means the Glens can command a fee for some of their players who will be in the shop window at Euro 2022 and beyond.
However, for now it shows that Glentoran is the place to be as the east Belfast club lead the way in this next stage for the rapidly growing women’s game in Northern Ireland.