The 32-year-old says knowing she will play at Stamford Bridge and Kingsmeadow next season is ‘surreal’ - and with good reason following her arrival from Barcelona.

After all, only a few months ago, Bronze was lining up against the Blues in front of a sold-out Bridge for a Champions League semi-final, where the Catalans narrowly triumphed.

Now her opponents from that night are her new teammates.

‘I’ve never really had anything planned out long-term,’ Bronze explains, when asked if the aim was always to return to the country of her birth.

‘I’ve always gone with my gut feeling at the time, whether it was moving to France when I did, going to Barcelona, or coming back to England. And that was the case this time. I trusted my instincts.’

After Barcelona ended our own European dream last season, the England full-back went on to play in the final for the Catalans against former club Lyon, claiming yet another major honour.

With five Champions League, a European Championship and eight domestic league medals already at home, it is reasonable to ponder what still motivates Bronze, with so much already achieved.

Winning is obviously part of it. But it goes deeper than that. From a young age Bronze has always felt at her most comfortable on the pitch and that remains the case.

‘I absolutely love football. It's what I would have done whether I became a professional or not. And anyone who knows me will say I'm the most competitive person.

‘Playing football at the highest level, I want to do it for as long as possible; winning trophies for as long as possible. I'm motivated and driven to do that. I always have been, and I think always will be.

'I’m sure eventually someone will have to drag me off the pitch rather than me saying, ‘no I don’t want to play.’'

And that winning mentality honed over her 17-year career has not waned in the slightest.

Bronze knows what it takes to win Europe’s ultimate prize and is hungry to do so again.

‘I know people always say that I've won so many trophies and I've won the Champions League so many times. But I’ve never won the Champions League with an English team in my career.

'Don’t get me wrong, being English and playing abroad were fantastic experiences and I wouldn’t change it for anything. But I’ve never done that with an English club and want to achieve this.

'Having won the Euros in England, I know what it means to represent your country in the biggest competitions and against the best players.’

This is perhaps why Bronze’s arrival is simultaneously both a fresh start and a homecoming. The Lionesses legend has never lived or played in London before but has a wealth of experience in the WSL.

Between 2013 and 2016 she won the title on three occasions, twice with Liverpool and once with Manchester City, who she later returned to for a second spell after leaving Lyon.

The chance to see her playing again on a regular basis is something her family, based in the north of the country, are particularly delighted about.

‘My family are so, so happy. Obviously, I'm not a local to the area, but it's nice for them to be able to get to more of my games now I’m back in England.

‘And I'm really excited to be in London and see what the capital holds.’

It wasn’t just the chance to return home, nor the prospect of keeping the Blues at top of the domestic game – after winning five WSL championships on the bounce – that appealed to Bronze.

As well as her fellow Lionesses, there will be plenty of other familiar faces at Cobham.

Bronze will have the chance to work with new manager Sonia Bompastor and her assistant Camille Abily – a major influence from her spell in France.

‘I know both Sonia and Cammy really well from my time at Lyon,’ she adds. ‘So naturally that was a factor in coming.

‘It’s a new era as well that I want to be part of. Emma (Hayes) obviously was amazing for this club and took it to a high level. But those two are another big reason for wanting to come here.

‘I played with Cammy in my first season, she was then a coach as well. She is someone I learnt a lot from and she had a big influence in an important part of my career.

‘I’ve always kept in touch with her. She’s a friend even though she’s my coach now. The type of players both of them were… there’s not many in the game who are better to learn from.’

And Bronze is well placed to know. Whether at Sunderland, Liverpool, Manchester City, Lyon or Barcelona, the high-flying full-back has consistently worked, and played with, some of the best in the game.

Her ability to evolve and adapt her game is what has helped her achieve so much.

With 125 caps for England, an Olympic Games for Team GB and a The Best FIFA Women's Player crown to her name, Bronze’s CV is almost never-ending, pages and pages of accolades and accomplishments.

Yet as she has already said – she’s not finished adding to it just yet.

‘To be at a club like Chelsea that is renowned for winning trophies, it’s a perfect match-up.

‘That’s what I’ve enjoyed the most in my career. I’m so excited to get going.’

Whatever happens this season, Blues fans can expect industry, skill and a relentless desire to be the best – it’s just what Lucy Bronze does.