Chelsea sensation Sam Kerr offers update on ACL recovery while outlining trophy targets & long-term future plans

The Australia international has been stuck on the sidelines since damaging knee ligaments in January. She is taking in a long road to recovery, and that process will not be rushed – even with the 30-year-old, who is her country’s all-time leading scorer, eager to get back out onto the field.

Kerr has told Optus Sport of her rehabilitation, having suffered a similar ailment back in 2012: “I’m not putting a date on my return, just making sure I get it right and making sure I feel good before I get back on the pitch. I mean, it’s my second ACL, so I know you need to take the time, you need to make sure it’s right and I’m doing everything I can. But definitely no rush for me, I want to make sure I can play for many more years to come.”

Kerr, who is about to turn 31, has extended her contract at WSL champions Chelsea through to 2026 and said of silverware ambition in west London now that Sonia Bompastor has replaced USWNT coach Emma Hayes at the helm. She added: “We would love to win the Champions League, that's the one we want. I think every year that's what we shoot for. We've fallen short a few years in a row, and hopefully Sonia brings that to this club. But, obviously, we want to win as many championships as we can. We'd love to retain the league again, get the Conti Cup back, get the FA Cup back, but the main one for us is Champions League, and we're going for that this year.”

European glory would complete Kerr’s remarkable CV at club level, but she has no desire to consider life away from Chelsea any time soon. She went on to say of committing to fresh terms with the Blues: “This feels like home now. I love it here, I love where I live, I love the girls and we win a lot so it's nice.I want to end my career, whenever that is, with as many trophies as I can and I think Chelsea's the best place to do that.” Chelsea are set to open their 2024-25 WSL campaign at home to Aston Villa on September 20.