Chelsea miss out! Bayern Munich announce Lena Oberdorf signing as Germany star chooses Wolfsburg's rivals over English champions

Wolfsburg have cashed in on the reported €400,000 (£340,500/$429,000) release clause in Oberdorf's contract, which was set to expire next summer. AZ/WAZ reported earlier this week that Chelsea were also willing to pay the bumper fee to sign the 22-year-old, but she instead chose Bayern Munich - Wolfsburg's main rivals in Germany - and will join the club this summer. Her contract is until 2028.

Oberdorf said on the move: "I had good discussions with head coach Alexander Straus and head of department Bianca Rech and I really liked the club's vision of what they want to achieve in the next few years. They also showed me where my potential lies and what they can still get out of me. I don't think I'm a complete player yet - but I want to get there. I will continue to give my all for VfL Wolfsburg until the summer and then look forward to the new challenge."

"Lena Oberdorf is one of the most talented players in Germany and has a great future ahead of her. We are very happy that we were able to convince Lena to join FC Bayern," Rech added. "We are looking forward to her playing for us from the summer, as we are convinced that Lena represents the values as a footballer that we need to continue to be successful in the future."

The move is a blow for Chelsea, who have been looking for a top class holding midfielder for the last few transfer windows. It's an even bigger setback for Wolfsburg, though. The She-Wolves have been the dominant force in Germany for some time and one of the elite in Europe, too, reaching the Champions League final as recently as last season. However, this is another sign that Bayern are growing at a rapid rate as they look to shift the power domestically.

Oberdorf was GOAL's first-ever Women's NXGN winner back in 2020. The prize, given to the most talented young player in the world, came after she represented Germany at the 2019 Women's World Cup while just 17 years old, making her the country's youngest ever player at the tournament.

Oberdorf will hope to see out her final season with Wolfsburg on a positive note, with the club only one point behind Bayern in the Frauen-Bundesliga title race. The pair face each other again next month.