Sam Kerr will return to Chelseas squad for the first time in more than 600 days when the defending champions kick off the new Womens Super League (WSL) season on Friday night.
The Australia international, 31, has been out for a year and a half after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2024.
Sam Kerr is in the squad, manager Sonia Bompastor said ahead of the season-opener against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. She will be involved in the game. We dont know yet if she will start or not but shes in the squad.
Shes in a good place. Shes been training well. Shes physically in a good position, also mentally.
Shes been away from the pitch for a long time so I think we still need to be patient. Thats normal for her not to be at her best level yet.
Kerr who has scored 99 goals for the club, including finishing as WSLs top scorer in 2020-21 and 2021-22 is yet to make an appearance under Bompastor, who replaced Emma Hayes a year ago.
Its nice because she is one of the players everyone wants to see on the pitch, Bompastor said of Kerrs return. Thats nice for me, also, to have her in the squad, with her leadership and experience.
Chelsea confirmed on Wednesday that striker Mayra Ramirez, who was signed after Kerrs injury in 2024, has undergone hamstring surgery. Bompastor said on Thursday that the Colombia international is expected to be out until January.
As reported by The Athletic, Chelsea are attempting to sign USWNT forward Alyssa Thompson from NWSL club Angel City before the WSL transfer window closes at 11pm BST on Thursday night.
With Ramirez and Lauren James injured and Kerr still returning to full fitness, Aggie Beever-Jones is expected to step in as the starting striker. Thompson would be an additional option for Bompastor on the wing with James absent and Beever-Jones playing a central role.
For me, its really important to have quality and talent in the squad when you want to achieve success, Bompastor said while declining to specifically talk on Thompson. I think thats also important for us to have depth in the squad because we want to compete in all the four competitions we are playing in.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Chelsea, Women’s Soccer
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