Blues fans can now breathe. During the summer there was plenty of speculation about where the Welsh captain would spend the next years of her career playing football. Following a standout first few months of the campaign where Sophie Ingle has been essentially undroppable, the Blues rewarded the 31-year-old midfielder with a new contract, keeping her in Chelsea blue until the summer of 2025. Along with Erin Cuthbert in the middle of the pitch, Ingle has been a leader, and orchestrator in the midfield, proving that she still has many years of world-class football left in her.
So far this season, Ingle has played in 15 matches and started 12 in all competitions, netting two goals to go along with an assist. Ingle leads the team in progressive passes, with an astounding 75, 14 more than any other CFCW player. She has the most passes into the final third of the pitch with 84 in all competitions.
Ingle is in the 98th percentile in progressive passes completed per 90 mins when comparing her to each midfielder around the world. The Welsh captain also ranks No. 1 on the Blues through the first few months of the season in interceptions in all competitions with 24. The midfielder is top-six in CFC this season in shot-creating actions and tied for second in goal-creating actions along with two others. This was supposed to be the campaign where Emma Hayes and the Blues saw some sort of regression in the Welsh international, but the complete opposite has transpired.
After the confirmation of the contract, Ingle spoke on what it means to stay with CFC, stating:
"“I’m really delighted to sign for Chelsea again. I feel like this club is home away from home. I’ve settled in from the very first moment that I signed about five years ago. I’m really delighted to continue this journey with this amazing club.”"
It is hard to see Hayes’ side without Ingle beyond this season due to how impressive she has been controlling the middle of the park for the Blues each time out. The age may be something that stands out when it comes to Ingle, but it is clear, there is no sign of regression anytime soon. Ingle has been a part of CFC during two stints of her career.
She was originally brought in by Matt Beard and the Blues as a left-back but grew into a position in the center of the pitch. After spending the next few seasons of her career in Bristol, and Liverpool, Ingle returned to west London where she has been since the 2018 season. 2.5 more years of Ingle for CFC assures that the Blues do not have to worry about yet another contract that expires at the conclusion of the season.
If it was not for Guro Reiten putting up 13 assists in all competitions, Ingle has a clear argument to be named the Chelsea Player of the Season at the halfway point. Since returning to the Blues, Ingle has started in 64 of the 75 domestic contests en route to helping CFC capture three straight WSL titles among several cups. She may not be the most vocal leader like Magdalena Eriksson, but Ingle is the exact calming presence in the midfield that this team needs in order to find consistent success through the number of competitions this club participates in.
Her vision allows players like Fran Kirby, and Sam Kerr to roam freely in the final third, knowing that Ingle will be the first one to find them in stride. From her wonder goal against the Gunners in the 2019/20 league campaign to breaking the deadlock against Real Madrid this season, Ingle has already created moments in CFC history that are never going to be forgotten. With the ambitions being as high as winning the Champions League, the Blues hope that Ingle is able to produce even more moments of magic on top of her brilliance in the midfield.
Over the last few months, CFC has locked down Jess Carter, Millie Bright, Guro Reiten, Jessie Fleming, Erin Cuthbert, Niamh Charles, and youngster Jorja Fox. Both Pernille Harder, and Magdalena Eriksson’s contracts run out at the conclusion of this campaign. Seeing one of the most influential players on the team this season put pen to paper on a new deal relieves some stress from Hayes and the club.
Hopefully, in the future, the club is going to announce even more extensions, and after one of the club’s icons departed, Ingle confirms her commitment to the club. Some may have seen a future without Ingle just a few months ago, but having watched these last few months unfold, CFC made sure there were no more questions about who has become the more surprising standout of the 2022/23 campaign so far.