Kerr to leave Chelsea at end of season

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• Published14 May 2026, 18:19 BST

Striker Sam Kerr - Chelsea's all-time top scorer in the Women's Super League - will leave the club when her contract expires this summer.

Kerr, 32, has scored 115 times in 157 appearances for the Blues and her final game will be at home against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Australian, who joined Chelsea in November 2019, has helped the club win five WSL titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and the Community Shield.

"When I reflect on my Chelsea career and doing it for the last time [against Manchester United this Saturday], I just feel happy," said Kerr. "Happy that it happened, and I feel so grateful to have played for this club for six years and won as many trophies as we could."

Kerr has twice won the Golden Boot and was the WSL Player of the Season in 2022 and the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award winner in 2021 and 2022.

However, she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at a Chelsea training camp in January 2024 and spent 20 months on the sidelines.

Kerr, who signed a two-year contract extension in June 2024, returned to action after 637 days when she scored in a 3-1 win against Aston Villa in September 2025.

She has scored 16 goals in 29 appearances this season, with her goal against Leicester City taking her WSL tally to a record 64 for Chelsea.

Going into the game against Manchester United, Kerr is one behind equalling Fran Kirby's all-time record of 116 goals for Chelsea.

"We thank Sam for her incredible contribution to our success on the pitch and sustained growth off it," said the Stamford Bridge club.

"We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career."

She remains one of the world's best strikers - analysis

When Kerr joined Chelsea, it was the biggest transfer an English club had made.

She was a global superstar who had broken goalscoring records in each league she had played in, and was an icon back in Australia.

Her stock has only increased during her time in England as she helped Chelsea become the most dominant club of the past decade.

Known for her backflip celebrations, Kerr has scored some of Chelsea's biggest goals in FA Cups finals and Champions League knockout games.

Under former manager Emma Hayes, she was the star player in the team, and built a formidable partnership with playmaker Kirby during Chelsea's six-year stranglehold of the WSL.

Her two-year absence more recently, following an ACL injury, forced Chelsea to look elsewhere for attacking options and current manager Sonia Bompastor has not been able to call on Kerr for much of her time in charge.

However, Kerr's return to full fitness for the second half of this season - and six goals in her past six games in all competitions - showed what she is still capable of and why she remains one of the world's best strikers.

She is irreplaceable at Chelsea but Bompastor has already confirmed buying a number nine is high on the club's priority list for the summer.

Manchester City's top-scorer Khadija Shaw is top of Chelsea's wish list but whoever they sign to replace Kerr will have enormous boots to fill.

Kerr's future is unknown though sources close to the player have suggested a return to the National Women's Soccer League in the United States is on the cards.

Australian broadcaster 10 News reported in April that Kerr had agreed a move to Denver Summit but the striker quickly dismissed it on social media.

More to follow.

Related topics

• Football
• Women's Super League
• Women's Football

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