With 18 days to go until Chelsea begin the defence of our Women’s Super League title against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge, we profile our long-serving Norwegian defender Maren Mjelde who has contributed to a healthy collection of silverware during her time at the club.
Player Profile
Name: Maren Mjelde
National Team: Norway
Place of Birth: Bergen, Norway.
Position: Defender
DOB: 6 November 1989 (age 33)
Height: 1.66m (5 ft 5 in)
Chelsea career
Mjelde joined Chelsea ahead of the Spring Series in 2017 and has established herself as a key member of the squad. The Norwegian international has won the Spring Series, five Women’s Super League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and the Community Shield.
A taste for important goals on the European stage is something Mjelde relishes. One of her many highlights in a Chelsea shirt was scoring a stoppage-time goal against Paris Saint-Germain during the 2018/19 season, which sent us through to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals on away goals.
She contributed to one of our most memorable moments of 2022/23. Playing Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals at Stamford Bridge, Mjelde scored a penalty with the last-kick of extra-time to force a shootout, where she scored again to help us into the semi-finals.
The 33-year-old has made 131 appearances for the Blues, scoring 22 goals and showing prowess from the penalty spot in particular. While at Chelsea, Mjelde’s versatility has seen her named in the PFA Team of the Year as both a defender and a midfielder.
International duty
On the international stage, Mjelde has been a regular figure for Norway since her teenage years. She captained her country to the quarter-finals of the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France and was part of the Norwegian squad at the 2022 European Championships.
Mjelde led her side into the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, playing every minute for Norway at the heart of their defence, helping them reach the last-16 stage, where they were beaten by Japan.
Click here to secure your seats for the Blues opening WSL fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 1 October, with kick-off at 5.30pm (UK time).