Predominantly a deep-lying midfielder, Ingle is equally efficient in breaking up the play as she is at starting attacks. The Welsh captain has committed her future to the Blues after signing a further two-year contract extension.

Ingle has made 15 appearances for Chelsea this season across domestic and European competition, scoring two goals which both came in the UEFA Women’s Champions League in the home victory against Real Madrid and away win at Vllaznia.

Speaking after putting pen-to-paper, Ingle said: ‘I’m really delighted to sign for Chelsea again. I feel like this club is home away from home. I’ve settled in from the very first moment that I signed about five years ago. I’m really delighted to continue this journey with this amazing club.’

General manager Paul Green commented on Ingle’s signing: ‘We are delighted that Sophie has extended her contract. She has great experience and is a leader within the group. She has been a key player in our success over the last few years, and we look forward to that continuing.’

Her early FA Women’s Premier League football was played at Cardiff City Ladies, where she won the Welsh Cup. The midfielder has enjoyed two spells with the Blues, first joining the club back in 2012, featuring predominantly at centre-half in her first season. She also played in the FA Cup final defeat to Birmingham City that year.

During Emma Hayes’ first season in charge, Ingle made nine Women’s Super League appearances for the club. She then moved to Bristol and experienced Champions League football, including a memorable win over Barcelona.

She captained Bristol, but after their relegation from the WSL in 2015 she moved to Liverpool. Here, Ingle established herself as a key player over the next two-and-a-half-years where she was named the club’s Player of the Year twice.

Having impressed on Merseyside, Ingle returned for a second spell at Chelsea after our Double triumph in 2018. She started 28 times during her first season back in blue, fitting perfectly into the team and her efforts were recognised when she was named Players’ Player of the Year.

Ingle started all 15 of our WSL fixtures before Covid-19 derailed the 2019/20 campaign at the start of March. Her selfless role for the team was unquestionable, and now Ingle was starting to add long-range shooting to her long list of admirable traits.

Her first four goals for the club were scored in this campaign, the highlight being a spectacular hit against Arsenal in a thumping away win at Boreham Wood, a goal which was nominated for FIFA’s prestigious Puskas Award, and she was part of the side who won the 2020 Continental League Cup.

Her efforts were rewarded with a contract extension during the 2020/21 campaign and Ingle has been integral in the success we have enjoyed ever since. She was once among the leading appearance makers, with only three players featuring more regularly than her.

On the international stage, Ingle made her senior debut for Wales as an 18-year-old in a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in 2009. She was awarded the captaincy five years later and reached 100 caps for her country in 2020. She represented Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics in the summer of 2021, the only Welsh player in the squad, and proudly wore the armband for one of their games.

Everyone at Chelsea congratulates Sophie and wishes her continued success in the future.