Chelsea FC Women have completed the signing of Australian forward Sam Kerr and Emma Hayes has expressed her delight saying she will ‘fit seamlessly’ into the team and help take the Blues to the next level.
The 26-year-old Matildas captain put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal with the Blues, and the Chelsea Women manager spoke about how she will settle into life in the Barclays Women’s Super League.‘There is an adaptation for any player that comes to play here but Sam’s proven herself over a long period of time over in America, she has been MVP [Most Valuable Player] and top goalscorer consecutively,’ Hayes said. ‘For her the challenge is to prove herself in a European league, that’s the next step.‘It’s really clear that the best players in the world do want to come to England. We want to become the best league in the world and we’re moving in the right direction for that.’The three-time NWSL golden boot winner had the opportunity to sign for a number of clubs across Europe, but Hayes said the move was the right fit for both parties.‘It is the right fit. Every time we have had conversations on what she is looking to achieve and where we are, it was clear that this is a really good time for her to come into the club.‘That is a powerful statement and the fact players are choosing to play for us is confirmation that we’re making strides in the right direction and that we can compete with the top teams.‘Of course Sam’s profile brings positivity because she is Australia’s most recognised athlete and this is a real opportunity to indicate the good things that are happening in women’s football in our country, and I expect a positive response from the announcement.’
The Blues are in a great position having been unbeaten thus far in the 2019/20 campaign and Hayes believes Kerr will enhance an already quality Chelsea team while helping our quest for silverware.‘We are in a strong place and we have got a tight group. Sam will already be coming into an established environment, but she is a team player and I know my players will welcome her into the team.‘I’ve been so impressed by her character, spirit and personality. I have no doubt that she’ll fit seamlessly into our already unbelievable dressing room. We will give her as much support as possible to be the biggest success she can be.‘I am already blessed to coach a fantastic group of players but to add to that someone of Sam’s quality will make us all better. That’s what coaching the best actually does, it makes it easier to achieve things. There is so much in her game that will rub off on our players and I hope that playing in our team there will be a lot of things that help take her to the next level.‘We are talking about a person who is a wonderful team-player, she’s interested in team success and that sits really well here at Chelsea.’