When Sam Kerr signed with Chelsea in the winter of 2019, she was already a certified legend of the game: a Ballon d’Or nominee; the all-time leading goalscorer of both the American and the Australian professional women’s leagues. But she wanted more. She wanted more goals, more glory, more trophies.
And wouldn’t you know it, she delivered. And how!
Six and a half absolutely legendary years and nearly a dozen trophies later, she’s set to leave as our all-time leading goalscorer in the WSL, with 64. And with 115 goals in 177 total appearances, she’s just one behind Fran Kirby for the all-time lead across all competitions. (We have one game left, so it’s not out of the question that Kerr ties or passes Kirby still.) And that’s despite missing over a year due to an ACL injury!
Kerr, who has decided not to renew her contract, was the landmark signing of all landmark signings at the time for Chelsea, and she’s helped keep the Blues at the very top of the women’s game ever since. Her boots will be very hard to fill, figuratively and literally.
Two years ago, when she signed her last extension, she pranked everyone with a fake goodbye video. This time, it’s very much the real thing.
“When I reflect on my Chelsea career and doing it for the last time, I just feel happy. 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. The only thing that comes to my mind is remembering all the happy moments, the fun moments, and just feeling really proud.”
“[But] the thing about Chelsea that has made everything so special [has been] the people. You can go out and play for any football club, but I’ve been playing for people who help you every day, and I’ve had a lot of help. I can’t take credit for anything I’ve done alone because people have always helped me.
“I think for me, that’s the hardest part. I’m going to miss the people. I’m going to miss the conversations. I’m going to miss winding people up. I’m going to miss having fun with all the great people who are at this football club.”
-Sam Kerr; source: Chelsea FC
In a season of big departures and massive changes in the team, this one feels the biggest … even though it’s been largely expected.
Thank you for everything, Sam, and good luck in whatever may come next! (A return to America perchance?)
