Top 10 Chelsea Women players of the Emma Hayes era

This season for the Chelsea Women has been one filled with milestones. From the club’s 30th anniversary to Emma Hayes’ 10th year at the club, the Blues hope to conclude this historic season with lots of silverware.

Given that this season is so significant, let us take a look at the club’s top-ten players of the Emma Hayes era. For the Blues, it has not always been about winning, but for fans who have only jumped on the Chelsea Women bandwagon during the past few seasons, lifting trophies seemed to be inevitable as the end of the campaign neared.

The 50-year FA ban for women in the English game prevented some of the best footballers from demonstrating their true abilities on the national stage. 1971 marked the year that women began to challenge the ban, and after years the glory years began to come to a close, Chelsea Women was formed officially, as a project run by Tony Farmer.

We recognize the significance that the past players before Hayes’ time played in the club’s advancement. This list is a celebration of the acceptance of women at Chelsea, paying homage to the best the club has seen since 2012 between the white lines.

Before we kick off the list at No. 10, let us lay down some ground rules and clarifications:

This list features players not only for their impact on the pitch and the quality of the player but also for what they did to help the club move forward to becoming what it is today.

The goal is to highlight players not only from the current team but individuals that have contributed at a high level for Chelsea Women in all 10 years of the Hayes era. 

Pernille Harder, Sophie Ingle, Hannah Blundell, Karen Carney, Claire Rafferty, Gilly Flaherty, and Maren Mjelde have all contributed greatly to this club and barely missed this list as of right now.

Top 10 Chelsea Women Players of Emma Hayes era:

10. Katie Chapman

The highly decorated English international, Katie Chapman retired from football after leading the Blues out to an FA Cup triumph in 2018 against Arsenal. The midfielder ended her club career with 10 FA Cups while earning 94 international caps for England. She captained the Blues to a league and cup double in 2015, a triumph in the 2017 WSL Spring Series, and the FA Cup in 2018.

She may have spent a large portion of her career with Arsenal, but after her retirement from the game, Chapman became the Chelsea Women’s first ambassador, helping to support women’s football, and the club on and off the pitch. As someone that continues to advocate for the Chelsea Women’s team today, it is difficult to leave her off the list.

She asserted herself in the middle of the park during her Chelsea tenure, playing alongside Drew Spence, and Ji in the middle of the park as the Blues reached their first-ever Champions League semifinal.

She brought that veteran leadership at the perfect time, elevating the Blues to a level where a major trophy was finally in the hands of the club. Many players could be acknowledged at this No. 10 spot, but due to the fact that she was one of the first captains during this era, and the one that led the team out to its first major trophy, Chapman begins this list.

9. Erin Cuthbert

When talking about the heart and soul of the current Chelsea Women team, there is only one true answer. Since March 2017, Erin Cuthbert has been one of the most integral parts of the success of the Blues.

From her show-stopping goal against Manchester City in the FA Cup final last year to the world-class strike at the Bridge against Tottenham a few months ago, Cuthbert has provided Chelsea fans with live-long memories. Her smile, and infectious personality on and off the pitch have made her a true fan favorite with the Kingsmeadow faithful.

The Scottish international was the 2018-19 CFC Player of the Season, starting in 23 of the 26 matches she played in all competitions. In that campaign, Cuthbert scored 12 goals, and assisted on seven.

Her goal tally for the club has gone down ever since due to her position change as a central midfielder. As an 18-year-old at the club, Cuthbert played much higher and wider up the pitch than she does now.

Cuthbert’s work rate each match is one of the most remarkable things to watch. Never does she give up on a play, and in one game this season against Real Madrid, the Scot totaled 50 pressures, 38 more than any other player on the pitch that day.

During the past two seasons, the Scottish midfielder has been either No. 1 or 2 for the most tackles plus interceptions on the Blues’ squad, leading CFC with 74 in 2021/22.

As time passes, Cuthbert could skyrocket even higher on the list as she continues to be a force in the middle of the pitch for one of the most talented teams in Europe. So far during her Chelsea career, Cuthbert has made 166 appearances, scoring 43 times. With Cuthbert extending her contract until the end of the 2024/25 season, who knows how much more magic this Scottish superstar can make in blue because the celling is sky high.

8. Eniola Aluko

The now former sporting director of one of the NWSL’s newest clubs, Angel City FC, Eniola Aluko was a part of Chelsea Women for eight seasons in the frontline. When Aluko returned to the club for her second spell in 2012, she took her game to new heights with Hayes at the helm. Aluko was a part of the west London outfit from 2007-2009 and returned in 2012 where she would play for the Blues until 2018.

Her role began to decrease with the inclusion of players like Fran Kirby, but Aluko left the club as the Blues’ all-time leading scorer, acting as one of CFC’s most potent strikers in the early days of the Hayes era.

She was the second player ever to be inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame. Aluko made 158 appearances in blue, netting 68 goals in all competitions before she left for Juventus following the 2017-2018 season. Aluko was the 2014-2015 Player of the Season, featuring in 25 of the club’s 28 games in all competitions.

She helped lead the Blues to a league and cup double. Aluko was causing fits all game for the Notts County defense. Her relentlessness paid off in the end as she laid off the game-winning goal to Ji So-yun, earning the FA Cup final player of the match for her performance as the Blues’ No. 9 through all 90 minutes.

She won the Golden Boot in the WSL in the next league campaign with nine goals in 16 games. Aluko would conclude her Chelsea career with five major trophies, winning the league three times, and the FA Cup on two occasions. Her display in the first Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley is one of the most unforgettable performances by a player since Hayes took the helm.

7. Drew Spence

This past summer saw the departure of not just one, but two legends of the club. The Jamaican international, Drew Spence contributed more than 10 years of her football career to the west London side.

Spence came from the Centre of Excellence and left the Blues for Tottenham having been the longest-serving player. She joined Chelsea Women in 2008, making her debut at the senior level in 2009, and assisted in the Blues’ all 11 major trophies.

Spence was everything Chelsea Women has been about since Hayes arrived, lifting the Blues from becoming an amateur side to one of the best in all of Europe. As one of the most consistent starters in the central midfield, Spence made a staggering 238 appearances in blue, scoring 50 goals during those matches. She may not have won the most individual awards during her time at Chelsea, but Spence was the perfect example of selflessness and team play.

She played 1,000 minutes once in her final four seasons in blue, but when Hayes called upon Spence for a start in the midfield, she always knew what she was going to get. The Jamaican’s smile on and off the pitch, and emotion when she finally left for the north London side show just how much Chelsea meant to her.

Hayes got to see Spence grow into a player that has now become one of the most vital pieces to the Jamaican women’s national team. It is hard to look past Spence now in a Spurs kit, but out of all the players that have donned a CFC kit since Hayes arrived, she may have been the player that wore it with the most pride.

6. Magdalena Erikkson

When you talk about leading by example in the Chelsea Women’s team, the first player that has to come to mind is Swedish international, Magdalena Erikkson. Before Chelsea Women took on Tottenham to open the season in 2019, Hayes named Eriksson as the team captain after Carney retired from the game of football. She may not dazzle you with goals, having netted just seven goals in her 89 appearances for the club, but the versatile Swedish defender is one of the best in the world when it comes to building out of the back.

Her remarkable left foot has the ability to pick out her teammates on a dime. She led the Blues in progressive passes in the WSL for three straight seasons, from 2018 to 2021. Erikkson was a vital piece not only in keeping CFC’s defensive dominance, but her vision with the ball at her feet opened up the pitch for the Blues’ most skilled attacking players.

Whatever she decides to do this upcoming summer with her contract expiring does not affect her status as a Chelsea Women icon. This season, she is being asked to play a position she is not used to, and due to her experience and quality, the Swede has begun to take her new spot in the starting XI in stride.

Eriksson is a role model for equality in the sport of football, and along with her partner, Harder, the two have used their platforms to educate and affect positive change. Eriksson is to the women’s team as Cesar Azpilicueta is to the men’s team. For her quality in the center of the CFC backline, and her presence as a role model, Eriksson is a player that sits among the pantheon of Chelsea legends.

5. Bethany England

The club and every one of its fans are going to miss her. Bethany England’s move to North London during this current transfer window provides people in the world of women’s football time to reflect on the storied impact this player had at Chelsea.

For her unprecedented rise into the first team, goal-scoring record, and clutch gene, there is no question England is in the top five of this list. After a stint on loan with Liverpool, England came back to her parent club with a point to prove.

The English international started in every league match but six over the next two seasons in west London, netting double-digit goals in both campaigns and leading the Blues in the goals department during their run to the title in 2019/20. The Barnsley native scored some of the most significant goals in the club’s history.

Both her goal at Stamford Bridge against Tottenham and the game-winning goal to clinch the Blues first ever Conti Cup in stoppage time against Manchester City will be ones nobody is going to forget. She was more a traditional No. 9 that finished the Chelsea Women’s buildup more times than not. At the end of her career, England fell out of the team due to the quality that continued to come into the squad but that does not let that take away from her greatness. England is one of the best to don the CFC crest on her chest.

4. Millie Bright

Defined by leadership, consistency, and stability in the backline, Millie Bright has grown into one of the world’s best defenders throughout her time in blue. After coming to west London in 2015 from Paul Green’s old club, Doncaster Belles, Bright earned the Players’ Player of the Season in her first year. The English international went on to start every league game she played in except one from 2016 to now.

Her calmness, physicality, experience, and leadership in the center of the defense have been a staple of the club for so many of Hayes’ years in the English capital. She has led the Blues in minutes played for three straight seasons, consistently stepping foot onto the pitch with the mission of keeping the opposition out of the back of the net.

The Blues have allowed the fewest number of goals in league play in three campaigns since Bright arrived in December 2014. Her rise at CFC has helped her make a name for herself on the international stage.

Bright was a part of the 20-player list of nominees in consideration for the 2022 Ballon d’Or following her Euros triumph, and domestic double with the Blues. With her contract now extended until 2025, Bright is going to continue her run of excellence with Chelsea Women for years to come. Her contributions since her arrival, and the dominant stage of her career she is hitting right now make it an easy call to put Bright in the top five.

3. Sam Kerr

Backflips and all, the Australian international, Sam Kerr became a revelation in west London since she made her historic move from the NWSL to the WSL in January 2020. So far during her career in blue, Kerr has scored 48 WSL goals in the same amount of stars, netting 20 or more in the league in her two full seasons so far at the club.

Kerr earned the WSL Golden Boot in back-to-back seasons, running the show in the Chelsea Women’s frontline, and living up to all the hype that surrounded her arrival from the United States.

From her performance in the second half against Man United to secure the WSL title last season to her clip-shot goal at Wembley in the FA Cup, Kerr has been that player that consistently comes up with goals when Chelsea need them the most. Kerr was coming to west London after winning the Golden Boot for three consecutive seasons in the NWSL.

The 2021/22 Chelsea Women’s Player of the Season finished third in Ballon d’Or voting for the past two campaigns, losing out to Barcelona’s Alexia Putellas on both occasions. If the Blues are going to win the Champions League in the near future, Kerr is going to be the player that lifts them over the top in the most crucial of moments.

It has been just over three years since the Australian took her talents to London, and over that time span, Kerr has continued her dominance as one of the most feared strikers in the game today.

2. Fran Kirby

“Super” Fran Kirby. What more is there to say about a player who has given everything on and off the pitch since her introduction from Reading in 2015? Whenever the Chelsea Women need a jolt on the pitch, Kirby brings it. She has been a fan favorite since the beginning. From her cold-blooded look of black gloves in the cold to her awareness near the frame of the goal, Kirby has been one of the most important, and iconic players in the history of the club.

Since the 2017 season, Kirby has scored 51 league goals in just 57 starts, shining through during the 2020-21 campaign when the English international netted 16 goals to go along with a prolific 11 assists.

She is in the 95th percentile in progressive passes for attacking midfielders, acting as the orchestrator for the Blues since the beginning of Hayes’ successes. Kirby was a critical part of the Blues’ first WSL title, and just a few games later, the English midfielder scored the first of what would be many Champions League goals in the history of Chelsea Women. Unlike a few of these players on the list, Kirby can continue to add to her legend in west London, but for now, she is safely at the No. 2 spot.

1. Ji So-Yun

When South Korean international Ji So-Yun departed the club this past summer, it felt like Chelsa Women was losing a piece of its heart. The midfielder began it all. When Ji signed for the Blues in January of 2014 from INAC Kobe Leonessa, Chelsea Women had finished seventh in the Women’s Super League. For Hayes to be able to sign one of the world’s best players in the middle of the pitch at that moment set a domino effect in motion.

She was the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year nominee in 2010, and for her to commit to a club that was still trying to find its footing was a massive deal. Ji made the game look easy, and in nine years in blue, the South Korean left a six-time WSL champion, four-time FA Cup winner, and a two-time League Cup victor.

During her eight seasons in London, Ji was not only a world-class player that is celebrated for her goals in the clutch but an individual that brought joy off the pitch. She was a part of all 11 of the Blues’ trophies so far in the WSL era, featuring 209 times in blue, netting 68 goals in all competitions.

Whether it was her final goal in a Chelsea shirt against Arsenal or her back-to-back goals against Manchester City during the 2018/19 campaign to snatch a point away from the home side, Ji may have not been known for her goals, but she delivered without question when it mattered. Hayes’ 2021/22 squad would not be in the position it is in during the second half of the season without what Ji was able to do during her eight seasons.

Her presence and success with the team set the standard for CFC going forward as the club attempted to discover European progress with the South Korean wizard in the middle of the park. Sophie Ingle, Erin Cuthbert, and a few others including Jelena Cankovic have kept the midfield running for the Blues, but there is no replacement for Ji.

Many said that Japanese top-flight to the WSL was too large of a jump for Ji, but she quickly squashed that acquisition. She is a player that often flies under the radar when speaking about CFC due to the number of quality players that have come through the club over the last 10 years, but when talking about Chelsea Women, and WSL legends, Ji has to be one of the first names in the conversation.

The emotion when she decided to depart the club tells the entire story. Ji is a player that transcends generations. The South Korean was truly a one-of-a-kind player that lifted a football club to new heights it could have only dreamed of at the time.