The 26-year-old has penned a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club until the summer of 2027, making the move from Merseyside where she has been a key part of the Everton team since joining them in July 2021.

Having been selected to represent her country at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last summer, Bjorn helped Sweden to a third-place finish at the tournament alongside compatriots Zecira Musovic and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd.

Speaking for the first time as a Chelsea player, Bjorn said: ‘It feels amazing! To sign for one of the biggest clubs in Europe feels like part of a dream that you have when you are young. I’m very excited to get this journey started.’

General manager Paul Green commented: ‘Nathalie is a very experienced, versatile player that we have been tracking for a long time. She is a leader, has good pace, is good on the ball, and knows our league very well.

‘We are really pleased to get the deal over the line and look forward to seeing her make a good impact in the squad now and over the upcoming years.’

A versatile defensive player, Bjorn has played in central defence and central midfield for both club and country. She is a commanding and athletic defender who brings a wealth of experience and quality to our squad having competed at the highest level.

Bjorn represented Rosengard in her homeland, where she enjoyed domestic success in the form of one league title and two Swedish Cups, while also featuring for them in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

In the summer of 2021, Bjorn made the switch from her homeland to Everton and quickly settled into life in the WSL, establishing herself as a key figure in the team. She has racked up more than 300 senior games and joins Chelsea ahead of the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

A current Swedish international who has been capped 61 times, Bjorn helped her country to a silver medal at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, while achieving third-place finishes at both the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.

Everyone at Chelsea is delighted to welcome Nathalie to the club, and we wish her every success for the upcoming years.