Just when the Chelsea Women were going to play one of its most historic games in club history at Stamford Bridge, a tragedy in the United Kingdom drew the beginning of the season to a halt.
In the midst of the awful news for the Royal Family, the Women’s Super League’s transfer window came to a close with Chelsea finishing up seven new signings, and six new additions to the three-time defending league champions. With the injury to Ann-Katrin Berger, the goalkeeper and middle of the pitch were just two of the positions that Emma Hayes was looking to refurbish in the last days of the window.
CFC was on the verge of acquiring 25-year-old PSG midfielder Grace Geyoro for a world record £425,000, but the French side still had the ambitions of competing in the Champions League, and Geyoro was a huge part of that. Despite falling short of Geyoro, Hayes added a versatile center-back alongside Millie Bright and several wingers that have experience on the international stage. January is a window to keep an eye on if PSG are willing to be realistic with its changes halfway through the season.
The Blues know that Geyoro wants to come to Chelsea, and with that knowledge in the back of Hayes’ mind, she could attempt to persuade her away from a team that continuously plays second fiddle to Lyon in their domestic league. On top of her chemistry with Eve Perisset on the international level, Geyoro provides the Blues with a world-class spark plug in the middle of the pitch that can create opportunities and put the ball in the back of the net.
Hayes did manage to add three new midfielders during the summer, including Swedish international Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, and former FC Rosengård midfielder, Jelena Cankovic. Erin Cuthbert is going to be looked upon as the iron woman this season for the Blues as the anchor in the middle of the pitch, which could cause a problem when Chelsea needs to call on another defensive midfielder to fill in the role. Hayes has put a lot of faith in the 19-year-old academy graduate Emily Orman, who will head into the season as the No. 2 option in the net behind Swedish international Zecira Musovic.
Nobody really knows how long Berger is going to be out, but if Hayes wants to compete in more competitions than she did last season, the Blues may need to look for a more experienced goalkeeper in the next window. This shall provide a security blanket in those cup competitions or all-important league games.
A total of three Chelsea academy graduates are on loan in the WSL, which is unheard of for a league that simply does not loan players out within the league like the Premier League does. CFC not only loaded up talent on its squad this season, but Hayes also made sure the future was as bright as the present, rewarding Jorja Fox, Aggie Beever-Jones, and Charlotte Wardlaw with much-needed experience in the WSL.
Hayes knows the Blues are no longer competing with the majority of the clubs in the WSL following Manchester City shipping out Keira Walsh for a fee that was reported to be below €350,000 by Markel Zubizarreta who denied the conclusion that Barcelona paid a world record transfer fee. Zubizarreta and a determined FC Barcelona side want a chance at the Champions League crown once again, and with two players departing Manchester for northeast Spain, Chelsea’s Champions League path just got a whole lot more treacherous.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Chelsea Women and given the number of quality signings, and a contest at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are set out to prove something to the rest of the world. After what was a historic European Championship this summer, the WSL should be on the verge of more viewership worldwide. The Blues, like the rest of the league, have the goal of taking the game of women’s football to the next level. The top women’s football league in England will move to CBS Sports Network, and Paramount+ for the next two seasons, giving the public around the world an even more accessible way to watch some of the best players women’s football has to offer.
Being the favorite in this league is something that Hayes and the rest of the Blues have not shied away from one bit during their run to the top the past three seasons. Chelsea seems to thrive when the lights are shining the brightest, and with an expected larger audience on television this season.
CFC are going to be ready to demonstrate why women’s football in England is worth the spotlight. Delaying the start of the WSL season creates even more anticipation for Chels’ as the club seeks another season filled with domestic trophies, but most importantly the Blues are on a mission to change the perception of falling short in Europe’s most prestigious tournament.