Chelsea FC's star striker Sam Kerr is set to join Gotham FC on a free transfer following the expiry of her contract with the Blues. Kerr announced her exit from the eight-time Women's Super League champions in May, ending a six-and-a-half-year stay that featured five WSL titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and 116 goals in 158 appearances, the joint-most in the club's history. The 32-year-old Australia striker will join former Chelsea teammates Jess Carter, Ann-Katrin Berger and Guro Reiten at Gotham. Kerr's move to Gotham will represent her third stint in the NWSL, having most recently spent two seasons with the Chicago Red Stars between January 2018 and December 2019. She scored 35 goals in 43 appearances for the Red Stars before joining Chelsea. Kerr won two consecutive WSL Golden Boot awards in 2020-21 and 2021-22 as Chelsea won the league. She also won the WSL Player of the Year Award and Football Writers' Association Women's Footballer of the Year in the season after. In October 2023, she came second in the Ballon d'Or voting. Kerr ended the 2025-26 season having scored 17 goals and provided three assists in 30 matches across all competitions for Chelsea. Her final goal for the Blues arrived in the 1-0 win against Manchester United in the final WSL match of the season. The news of Kerr's departure comes as Gotham announced plans to construct their first-ever training facility, which will cost around $35 million and include a comprehensive suite of performance and operational spaces. Kerr's return to Gotham is a significant boost for the club, who currently sit fifth in the NWSL standings. She will be looking to help her new team defend their title and make a push for the playoffs. With her experience and goal-scoring ability, Kerr will be a key player for Gotham in the upcoming season. The move is a significant loss for Chelsea FC, who will be looking to replace Kerr's goals and experience in the upcoming season.
Transfer
Chelsea FC Loses Star Striker Sam Kerr to Gotham FC
Chelsea FC's Sam Kerr joins Gotham FC on a free transfer after six years with the Blues, scoring 116 goals in 158 appearances, including five WSL titles
Chelsea FC Hub