Home for Kadeisha means winning. That new deal means there is plenty of time for more success in a blue shirt. And, according to the defender, there is one key element in her game that makes her feel unstoppable.

‘I feel like this season I've been playing at my best and I found joy in playing,’ she explained. ‘I knew that Sonia [Bompastor] was getting me to where I needed to be, and I feel like she can always get me there.

‘I feel like the more joy you feel, the better you're going to play. If you feel good, then you're going to just have a lot of confidence, and you play with that confidence.

‘And when that confidence is shining and then glowing, you just feel like you're unstoppable. When you know you're at your best level, it feels so good.’

Since Buchanan arrived, she has made a total of 54 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions.

The move felt like the obvious choice for her and it has proved to be the right one.

She has extended family nearby, made up of great aunts and uncles who have children her own age. It was certainly a new chapter, one she’s still in the process of writing.

‘I was just ready for a change,’ she continued. ‘Being at Lyon for five and a half years, I just felt like I’d accomplished what I needed to accomplish. I was just looking for what my next chapter would look and feel like.

'Chelsea was right there in my head, plus I really like the culture, and I have family here, so I feel like that was just the right choice for me at that time

‘I feel like it’s home away from home, 100 per cent.’

Playing in the Women’s Super League for the first time after her move from France felt like a big adjustment for Kadeisha, but she soon began to find her feet. Her ACL injury sustained in November halted the defender in her tracks just as she was reaching her peak, but that has only fuelled her desire to come back stronger.

While many may have struggled to deal with a serious injury at a crucial moment, the defender is channelling that adversity into a visualisation of an even better future with Chelsea.

‘I think when you move to this league, it's a faster pace, higher intensity,’ she said. ‘I think it took me some time to just get used to playing in England. I feel like I had a slow start, but I think coming into the current season is where I hit my peak. And it was unfortunate that I got my injury right at that time.

‘It's something to look forward to that will make me stronger and faster and better for next season, knowing that I've played my best in this league and I can do it again. I think that just allows myself to be like, ‘I can cope with this league.’

‘I have a lot of faith and hope in myself to come back. It will take some time, but I know I've reached that moment in my game when I was playing at a high level so I can achieve it again.’

For Kadeisha, playing for Chelsea means winning. That’s the bottom line.

Yet there are other elements of being a Blue that mean a lot to her, which have become part of the reason for signing a new deal. From the vast and vibrant city of London to the intimate atmosphere of Kingsmeadow. She loves it all.

‘I think what’s special about being at Chelsea is the Women’s Super League is one of the most competitive in world football. Chelsea are at the top. I think that’s really hard to achieve, and it's even harder to stay there. But every year we're still at the top, and that shows just how hard the girls work. Chelsea are the best. That's why. That's what makes it special.

‘It's never easy though. And it's not given to us. Every team is going for us hard, and we still find a way to make it happen.

‘I love living in London. There's a lot of things to do. Good weather, and bad weather. I love going to the theatre. Just going shopping, there’s a lot of Michelin restaurants, and I have family there. Like I said, it's like a home away from home, and I really just enjoy being here.

‘Playing at Kingsmeadow is always a blessing too. It’s a small, tight atmosphere. I feel like most of the fans are season ticket holders. They come when it's raining or when it's shining. Any weather, you know that they're there.’

Spending time on the sidelines has given Kadeisha a sense of perspective. A reason to feel thankful for what she had before, and a renewed focus for returning to even higher levels than she had already reached.

She’s even missed some of the things that would normally be viewed as some of the more difficult elements of the game. She’s ready to have it all back.

Kadeisha said: ‘I'd like to come back maybe being even better than when I had to take a break. It gives you a different sense of gratitude and makes you grateful for just being healthy.

‘You get into a routine of going to work every day, but I feel like when you can't do it, I think it just gives you appreciation for the sport and what you had before.

‘I even wish someone could just yell at me on the field. I'll smile. Just to have that feeling again.’

After signing a new two-year contract, there’ll be plenty of time for Kadeisha Buchanan to enjoy all of those things at Chelsea.