Sam Kerr's next game with Chelsea will be her last with the team.
The striker, who is one goal shy of matching Chelsea's scoring record, confirmed on Thursday, May 14, she is leaving the London club after the season. Her last game will be Saturday against Manchester United.
Kerr has been with Chelsea for the last 6½ years, helping the Blues to five WSL titles and a runner-up finish in the Champions League in 2021. She won the WSL's Golden Boot title in 2021 and 2022, and was the WSL's Player of the Year in 2023.
Kerr has 115 goals in 157 games with Chelsea, one behind Fran Kirby.
"I definitely don't want this to be a sad conversation," Kerr said in a video on her and Chelsea's social media accounts. "Remember all the good times we've had together. It's been an absolute honor to represent you guys for the last 6½ years."
Brandi Chastain celebrates after kicking the winning game-winning penalty shot to win the 1999 Women’s World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl on July 19, 1999.
July 10, 1999: U.S. players react as Brandi Chastain takes the winning penalty kick during the Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
July 10, 1999: Goalkeeper Briana Scurry knocks away a penalty shot by China’s Liu Ying preserving helping the USWNT beat China in the Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
June 19, 1999: A crowd of more than 78,000 watch the opening ceremonies at the opening game of the Women’s World Cup Soccer at the Medowlands in New Jersey. The U.S. beat Denmark, 3-0, in the opening game of the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
Aug. 26, 2004: U.S. players listen to their national anthem before the start of the gold medal match against Brazil at the Olympic Games.
Aug. 26, 2004: Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm celebrate the Olympic gold medal win over Brazil in Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Wambach scored the game winning goal in overtime play to defeat Brazil, 2-1. It marked the second time that the USWNT won gold in the Olympics.
Aug. 26, 2004: Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain receiving their Olympic gold medal beating Brazil 2 -1 in overtime at Karaiskaki Stadium.
Aug. 29, 2004: At the Closing Ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympics, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain — also known as the “fab five” of the U.S. women’s soccer team — have their photo taken.
Aug. 21, 2008: U.S. players show off their gold medals on the the podium after winning the women’s soccer gold medal game against Brazil at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China.
Aug. 9, 2012: U.S. players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Japan in the gold medal match during the London Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium.
July 5, 2015: Carli Lloyd scores her second goal in a 5-2 win over Japan in the World Cup final at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
July 7, 2015: U.S. coach Jill Ellis addresses the crowd at the 2015 Women’s World Cup champions celebration at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
July 7, 2015: Abby Wambach kisses the World Cup trophy at the championship rally at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.
July 10, 2015: Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the Women’s World Cup trophy during a ticker tape parade in New York.
Jul 15, 2015: Members of the U.S. women’s soccer team, winner of the 2015 World Cup, pose on the red carpet during the 2015 ESPY’s award show at the Nokia Theater. The USWNT won the ESPY for outstanding team.
April 7, 2019: Members of the 1999 World Cup championship team pose for a photo at halftime of the USWNT vs. Belgian game at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
July 2, 2019: Alex Morgan celebrates after scoring a goal against England in the semifinal of the Women’s World Cup in Lyon, France. The U.S. won the game, 2-1.
July 7, 2019: Megan Rapinoe hoists the World Cup trophy and celebrates with teammates after defeating the Netherlands in the championship match of the Women’s World Cup at Stade de Lyon.
July 10, 2019: USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with teammates at City Hall after the ticker-tape parade for the World Cup champions down the canyon of heroes in New York City.
Feb. 24, 2021: The USWNT celebrates their SheBelieves Cup victory with a trophy presentation following a 6-0 win over Argentina at Exploria Stadium.
Feb. 22, 2023: USWNT players celebrate after winning the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 defeat of Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Aug. 6, 2023: United States players Andi Sullivan (17), Naomi Girma (4), Lynn Williams (6), Julie Ertz (8) and Crystal Dunn (19) react as Sweden wins a penalty shootout during a Round of 16 knockout game at the 2023 World Cup at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia. The loss marked the USWNT’s earliest exit ever at a major tournament.
Aug. 10, 2024: Team USA celebrates winning the gold medal match against Team Brazil during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Parc des Princes.1 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Brandi Chastain celebrates after kicking the winning game-winning penalty shot to win the 1999 Women’s World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl on July 19, 1999.
1 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Brandi Chastain celebrates after kicking the winning game-winning penalty shot to win the 1999 Women’s World Cup final against China at the Rose Bowl on July 19, 1999.
2 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 1999: U.S. players react as Brandi Chastain takes the winning penalty kick during the Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
3 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 1999: Goalkeeper Briana Scurry knocks away a penalty shot by China’s Liu Ying preserving helping the USWNT beat China in the Women’s World Cup Final at the Rose Bowl.
4 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
June 19, 1999: A crowd of more than 78,000 watch the opening ceremonies at the opening game of the Women’s World Cup Soccer at the Medowlands in New Jersey. The U.S. beat Denmark, 3-0, in the opening game of the 1999 Women’s World Cup.
5 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 26, 2004: U.S. players listen to their national anthem before the start of the gold medal match against Brazil at the Olympic Games.
6 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 26, 2004: Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm celebrate the Olympic gold medal win over Brazil in Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Wambach scored the game winning goal in overtime play to defeat Brazil, 2-1. It marked the second time that the USWNT won gold in the Olympics.
7 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 26, 2004: Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain receiving their Olympic gold medal beating Brazil 2 -1 in overtime at Karaiskaki Stadium.
8 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 29, 2004: At the Closing Ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympics, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain — also known as the “fab five” of the U.S. women’s soccer team — have their photo taken.
9 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 21, 2008: U.S. players show off their gold medals on the the podium after winning the women’s soccer gold medal game against Brazil at the Workers Stadium in Beijing, China.
10 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 9, 2012: U.S. players celebrate with their gold medals after defeating Japan in the gold medal match during the London Olympic Games at Wembley Stadium.
11 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 5, 2015: Carli Lloyd scores her second goal in a 5-2 win over Japan in the World Cup final at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada.
12 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 7, 2015: U.S. coach Jill Ellis addresses the crowd at the 2015 Women’s World Cup champions celebration at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
13 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 7, 2015: Abby Wambach kisses the World Cup trophy at the championship rally at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles.
14 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 2015: Megan Rapinoe celebrates with the Women’s World Cup trophy during a ticker tape parade in New York.
15 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Jul 15, 2015: Members of the U.S. women’s soccer team, winner of the 2015 World Cup, pose on the red carpet during the 2015 ESPY’s award show at the Nokia Theater. The USWNT won the ESPY for outstanding team.
16 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
April 7, 2019: Members of the 1999 World Cup championship team pose for a photo at halftime of the USWNT vs. Belgian game at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
17 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 2, 2019: Alex Morgan celebrates after scoring a goal against England in the semifinal of the Women’s World Cup in Lyon, France. The U.S. won the game, 2-1.
18 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 7, 2019: Megan Rapinoe hoists the World Cup trophy and celebrates with teammates after defeating the Netherlands in the championship match of the Women’s World Cup at Stade de Lyon.
19 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
July 10, 2019: USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with teammates at City Hall after the ticker-tape parade for the World Cup champions down the canyon of heroes in New York City.
20 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Feb. 24, 2021: The USWNT celebrates their SheBelieves Cup victory with a trophy presentation following a 6-0 win over Argentina at Exploria Stadium.
21 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Feb. 22, 2023: USWNT players celebrate after winning the 2023 SheBelieves Cup with a 2-1 defeat of Brazil at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
22 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 6, 2023: United States players Andi Sullivan (17), Naomi Girma (4), Lynn Williams (6), Julie Ertz (8) and Crystal Dunn (19) react as Sweden wins a penalty shootout during a Round of 16 knockout game at the 2023 World Cup at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Australia. The loss marked the USWNT’s earliest exit ever at a major tournament.
23 / 23
United States women's national soccer team: Highlights through the years
Aug. 10, 2024: Team USA celebrates winning the gold medal match against Team Brazil during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Parc des Princes.
While Kerr did not say where she will play next, this is not a retirement for the 32-year-old. She is Australia's captain, as well as one of its most celebrated athletes, and the Matildas have already qualified for next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Kerr led Australia to its best finish at the last World Cup, where the Matildas lost to England in the semifinals. Kerr had Australia's only goal in the 3-1 loss.
A return to the NWSL would seem to be the most likely scenario. Kerr played in the NWSL from 2013 to 2019, when she was twice the league's MVP, and a move to the United States also would put Kerr closer to family. Her wife is Kristie Mewis, a former U.S. women's national team player. The couple have a son Jagger, who turned 1 earlier this month.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sam Kerr says goodbye to Chelsea after six-plus seasons
