The 26-year-old officially joins the Blues from French side Olympique Lyonnais on 1 July until summer 2025. The centre-back will be the first player to wear the famous number 26 shirt for Chelsea since Blues legend John Terry.

Buchanan has spent the past five-and-a-half-years at Lyon where she most recently won the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Barcelona, securing her fifth Champions League trophy with the French side. The Canadian defender has had an illustrious career to date proving to be one of Europe’s best, with 130 appearances and nine goals to her name at Lyon and a further eight domestic trophies secured, including winning the Coupe de France three times and the French league title an impressive five times.

Prior to moving to France, Buchanan spent four years playing college football in the States with West Virginia Mountaineers where she made 98 appearances and established herself as one of the top players in the NCAA.

Buchanan also brings a wealth of experience having started her international career at just 14 years old when recruited into the Canadian youth programme in 2010. Her first silverware came in the form of a silver medal at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship in Guatemala and she then went on to win the Young Player award at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The centre-back made her senior debut for her country in 2013 against China, becoming one of the youngest international players at the time. Since then, she has gone on to make 118 appearances and receive a host of individual honours, being named Canadian Player of the Year three times, nominated for the prestigious FIFA Ballon d’Or and featuring in the FIFPro Women’s World XI. Last year, Buchanan also took home gold at the 2020 Olympics.

On her arrival to Chelsea, Buchanan commented: ‘I am coming to Chelsea with the same ambition I always had - win trophies and become the best in the world. The club has everything in order for us to compete in every competition and it’s time to bring a Champions League trophy to London.

‘I'm hoping to bring my experience to the team and continue on the successful pathway that the club has been on for the past seasons. I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and the coaching staff on this journey.’

Commenting on Buchanan’s move to the Blues, Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes added: ‘Kadeisha is a serial winner at the top of her game and I have no doubt we are signing a world-class player who has proven herself on the world stage.

‘She is going to bring a quality to our group and with her brilliant personality and character, we think she will be really liked within the dressing room. We look forward to welcoming Kadeisha this summer.’

Buchanan will join up with the squad in the summer prior to heading to the States for the WICC tour in August. Welcome to Chelsea, Kadeisha!