Ellie Carpenter now her wife’s rival after joining Sam Kerr in major club switch

Matildas star Ellie Carpenter has switched clubs in a massive move, joining a football superpower, where she will now be her wife’s rival.

Matildas star Ellie Carpenter labelled it a “new adventure” after signing a four-year deal to join her national captain Sam Kerr at Super League giants Chelsea.

Carpenter, who is in Perth with the Matildas preparing for a Saturday friendly against Panama, crossed from 2025 Champions League semi-finalists Lyon.

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The 25-year-old is a proven winner having claimed league titles in four of her five seasons there and added a second Champions League trophy in 2022.

Carpenter has also made 87 appearances for the Matildas after making her debut aged just 15 against Vietnam and looms as a long-term leader set to enhance her credentials at Chelsea.

“I’m really excited about this new challenge, it’s a new adventure,” Carpenter said.

“It feels like the right move for me, and I can’t wait to get started and give my all for this club.

‘I’m very proud to join such a big club, one of the biggest in women’s football. Chelsea have enjoyed so much success in England, and I’m delighted to now be a part of it.”

Carpenter recently got married to Dutch player Danielle van de Donk — the couple met playing for Lyon but they will now be rivals in the English League after van de Donk moved to the London City Lionesses.

Ellie Carpenter has joined Chelsea, where she will now be a rival of her wife Danielle van de Donk.

Chelsea’s head of football Paul Green said the club had wanted to get Carpenter on-board for some time.

“Ellie is a player who we have tracked for many years. She has a lot of experience for someone of her age and has won numerous titles in her career, including the Champions League,” Green said on the club’s website.

“She is an athletic fullback who loves to get forward. We are excited to see how she continues to develop and what she will add to an already talented squad of players.

“Everyone at Chelsea warmly welcomes Ellie to the club, and we wish her every success during her time as a Blue.”

Kerr didn’t play for Chelsea at all last season after injuring her knee in pre-season training. She is yet to play since suffering the ACL injury in January 2024.

Originally published as Ellie Carpenter now her wife’s rival after joining Sam Kerr in major club switch