Even with Catarina Macario on her way to west London next season, Emma Hayes and the Chelsea Women are far from done yet.
CFCW news: Hannah Hampton officially departs Aston Villa, close to agreement to join Chelsea Women
On Thursday afternoon, the English international goalkeeper Hannah Hampton announced that she will be leaving Aston Villa after two years in Walsall. The 22-year-old English international made 43 appearances across all competitions for the Villains. Hampton, who recently made the England squad for the World Cup starting in July jumped onto the scene with Birmingham City, but did not receive her first senior national team call-up until she moved to AVFC.
Considering the Blues have four goalkeepers already heading into next season, it is quite perplexing why there have been reports that CFCW are leading the race to secure Hampton on a free transfer. The former Birmingham City Player of the Season would join three other goalkeepers that could very well be considered a No. 1 for a number of European sides. Ann-Katrin Berger is the club’s clear No. 1 despite her age with Zecira Musovic playing the part of a No. 2. Belgium’s No. 1 option Nicky Evrard signed with the west London side back in March.
Who knows what the Blues are going to do with Evrard this summer, but Emily Orman is more than likely going to be going out on loan given the loaded goalkeeping unit within the team. Reported by Sky Sports’ Anton Toloui, Hampton may have a move to west London lined up as her departure from Villa is now complete. Not only was it rumored that she was going to be joining Hayes’ side, Hampton also could be going out on loan for the entirely of next season to another WSL club. The Blues must think incredibly highly of the 22-year-old to even ponder a move for a fifth goalkeeper.
CFCW news: Blues continue to receive World Cup call-ups with tournament nearly a month away
In the midst of the fans awaiting the official announcement of Ashley Lawrence, a number of Chelsea Women players have been named to World Cup rosters over the past week. While England squad came out a few weeks ago, countries have continued to name not only their official roster but a preliminary one.
Both Sweden and Japan confirmed their teams this past week. Musovic, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd along with three other former CFCW players including former captain Magdalena Eriksson were named to Peter Gerhardsson’s side. Maika Hamano, one of the west Londoners’ newest additions who is on loan in Sweden right now was given her first World Cup call-up at just 19 years of age. Hege Riise presented her official Norwegian squad on Monday with Maren Mjelde and Guro Reiten among the 23 players.
Lawrence along with Jessie Fleming, and center back Kadeisha Buchanan were introduced on Bev Priestman’s 25-player preliminary roster less than 10 days ago. Canada is not expected to make the roster concrete until July 9 while the public won’t know if Aniek Nouwen is in the Dutch squad until June 30. Eve Perisset, Sam Kerr, Ann-Katrin Berger, and Melanie Leupolz have also been named to their nation’s preliminary squads with the release date of the definite ones unknown at this point in time.
CFCW news: Former star striker Eniola Aluko awarded MBE for work on and off the pitch
King Charles’ first Birthday Honors list was announced this past week, and a former west London star was among the honorees. Eniola Aluko, a former Chelsea Women player who made 158 appearances for the west Londoners, netting 68 goals across all competitions was one of the 471 to be given the Medal of the Order of the British Empire.
The award was bestowed upon her for her hands-on work in the community and contribution to the game of football. Aluko, not only was a key contributor to CFCW, she sits seventh all-time currently in the goal-scoring list for the English women’s national team. The Nigerian born striker played a part in three World Cups including one in which she assisted her nation to a third-place finish in 2015.
Outside of football, Aluko has publicly supported Saving Lives, a charity raising awareness for HIV and AIDS, Football Beyond Borders, and Common Goal with the aim to promote social change. She wrote a book which was published in 2019 called “They Don’t Teach This” which explores her life under the microscope of themes such as institutional prejudice. Nine percent of her proceeds from the book when the providing clean water to a school in Rwanda with the help of New York based charity, “Charity Water”.