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Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea Women at the end of the season when her contract expires, bringing an end to a hugely successful six-year spell with the club.
The Australian striker, who joined Chelsea in November 2019, departs as the club's all-time leading scorer in the Women's Super League. During her time in London, Kerr established herself as one of the most influential players in women's football and helped Chelsea dominate English football across multiple competitions.
Kerr has scored 115 goals in 157 appearances for the Blues and will play her final match for the club at home against Manchester United on Saturday. Her time at Chelsea included winning five WSL titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Community Shield.
Reflecting on her departure, Kerr said she feels grateful for everything she achieved at the club. She described her Chelsea journey as a happy chapter in her career and said she appreciated the opportunity to spend six years competing and winning trophies with the team.
Individually, Kerr collected several major honors during her Chelsea career. She won the WSL Golden Boot twice and was named WSL Player of the Season in 2022. She also earned the PFA Fans' Player of the Year award in both 2021 and 2022.
Her time at the club was not without challenges. In January 2024, Kerr suffered a serious ACL injury during a Chelsea training camp, forcing her to spend 20 months on the sidelines. Despite the setback, she signed a two-year contract extension later that year and eventually returned to action in September 2025, scoring in a win against Aston Villa after 637 days away from competitive football.
This season, Kerr has rediscovered her scoring form with 16 goals in 29 appearances. One of those strikes against Leicester City saw her break Chelsea's WSL scoring record with 64 league goals for the club.
Chelsea thanked Kerr for her immense contribution both on and off the pitch, praising her role in the club's continued success and global growth.
Her departure leaves a major gap in Chelsea's attack. Current manager Sonia Bompastor has already indicated that signing a new striker is one of the club's priorities this summer. Manchester City forward Khadija Shaw has reportedly emerged as a leading target.
Although Kerr's next destination remains uncertain, there has been speculation linking her with a return to the National Women's Soccer League in the United States. Reports earlier this year connected her with Denver Summit, though Kerr publicly dismissed those claims.
