Lucy Bronze has competition! Chelsea confirm Ellie Carpenter signing as two-time Champions League winner reunites with ex-Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor

Australia international defender Carpenter has secured a transfer to the WSL champions in a move that sees her reunited with former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor. The 25-year-old will provide competition for Lucy Bronze in west London and help boost Chelsea's backline ahead of the new WSL season.

As part of the transfer, Ashley Lawrence will return to Lyon after two seasons with the Blues. Carpenter will therefore replace Lawrence and battle with Bronze for a starting spot at Chelsea. The defender arrives with an impressive CV as she has already won the Champions League twice as well as domestic titles with Melbourne City and Lyon. Carpenter also became the youngest woman to ever play football at the Olympics at Rio 2016, at the age of just 16. 

She told the club's website: "‘I'm really excited about this new challenge; it’s a new adventure. 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."

Head of women’s football at Chelsea, Paul Green, said: "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. She is an athletic full back 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."

Carpenter will link up with her Chelsea team-mates ahead of the start of the new WSL season, which is due to kick off across the weekend of September 6 and 7, 2025.