Made in Chelsea: Matildas star Sam Kerr signs monster deal with WSL side
Sam Kerr is set to take her game to even greater heights after the Matildas superstar signed one of the richest deals in female football history.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Bold Aussie move now needs FIFA follow up
- Socceroos heavyweights who backed pay deal
- Kerr at the double a Matildas beat Chile
Superstar Sam Kerr has signed with Chelsea Football Club on a contract understood to be worth nearly $2 million, making her one the highest paid female footballers in the world.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the brilliant Australian footballer has signed a two-and-half year deal with the iconic UK soccer club.
The proven goal scorer will wear the No.20 shirt and the 26-year-old is excited about making her debut in the FA Women’s Super League, a move which football experts say could see Kerr’s game go to another level.
“The WSL is the best league in Europe,” Kerr said. “I want team success and I don’t want it to come easy. I feel Chelsea have been building something special over the years and I want to be a part of that – I want to lift some trophies.”
Stream every game of The 2019/20 Westfield W-League season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial & start streaming instantly >
News Corp first broke the news that Chelsea FC Women were circling the talented Australian back in June.
Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon), the most successful women’s football team in Europe, then entered the race for Kerr’s signature. Kerr finally settled on Chelsea because of their extremely professional environment.
Kerr’s Chelsea contract is said to be worth over $600,000 a season making her one of the most well paid female footballers in the world - and the highest-paid Australian female footballer of any code ever.
Welcome to Chelsea, @SamKerr1! 🙌#KerrIsBlue
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) November 13, 2019
Previously, Kerr has played in the W-League for Perth Glory from October to April and Chicago Red Stars in America’s National Women’s Soccer League from April to September.
She will start training with Chelsea next month.
It caps off a stellar year for Kerr, she was recently named the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring a record 19 goals in 23 games to secure a third-consecutive golden boot. This was despite being absent for part of the season because of this summer’s World Cup.
In France, earlier this year she became the first Australian (male or female) to score a hat-trick at a World Cup.
She was recently a finalist for the Best Women’s Player at the 2019 FIFA Football Awards as well as being a Ballon d’Or nominee.
Chelsea FC Women manager Emma Hayes said the club were thrilled to have signed the star.
Hayes pointed out that the talented forward was not only recruited for her athletic ability but also her leadership qualities.
“Sam has proved time and time again in the NWSL that she is a prolific goal scorer,” Hayes said. “She’s won the golden boot many times and she’s a player that can make things happen, but she’s also a fantastic team player.
“The fact she chose Chelsea when she could have gone to any club in the world is a testament to the players and the staff here because she saw this is the best place for her to grow and take the next step in her career. That’s a wonderful compliment to us all.”
Kerr debuted for the Matildas at just 15 and has gone on to score 38 times for Australia including five goals at this year’s World Cup.
She is the all-time leading goalscorer in the W-League with 70 goals and has netted a further 69 in the USA having represented Western New York Flash, Sky Blue FC and Chicago, claiming three golden boots and two MVPs.
Her illustrious career so far has seen her named as the 2017 Asian Football Confederation’s Women’s Footballer of the Year, and she has received awards for Best International Women’s Footballer and the Best Player in the NWSL at the 2019 ESPY Awards.