Emma Hayes described Maren Mjelde best after the Blues reached the Champions League semi-finals last season following a dramatic win over Lyon - the defender is a Chelsea legend.

Since arriving in January 2017 as a player who had never previously experienced English football or won a major honour, Mjelde has become part of the most successful era in the club's history.

With five WSL titles to date, as well as four Women's FA Cups, two League Cups and a Community Shield, the Norwegian leaves the club a true champion.

It's hard to boil down seven incredible years in Blue to just a few moments, but we've picked out some of Mjelde's highlights in a Chelsea shirt here...

Liverpool (H) - October 2017

The Spring Series title may have been won earlier in the year, but as the WSL returned to a winter calendar, the visit of two-time champions Liverpool early in the 2017/18 season was expected to provide Chelsea a tough test.

In only our third competitive game at Kingsmeadow, an early strike from Mjelde would ensure the Blues navigated a difficult afternoon. With a powerful finish in the 13th minute, the Norwegian international beat Siobhan Chamberlain for the only goal of the game.

It would prove the first of many times when Mjelde stepped up to the big occasion. The win kept us top of the table with three wins from three and by the following May, Chelsea were WSL Champions again - the defender picking up her first league winners' medal.

Paris Saint-Germain (A) - March 2019

Mjelde always managed to produce during the difficult moments, with her goal against Paris Saint-Germain perhaps the most obvious example. Having beaten the French giants 2-0 during the first leg at Kingsmeadow, the Blues were in the driving seat to make it through their Champions League quarter-final.

But the second leg on French soil was to prove entirely different. PSG dominated and brought the tie level through Kadidiatou Diani and an own goal from Ann-Katrin Berger, all in front of a partisan, intimidating home crowd.

Just as we looked set for extra-time, with 91 minutes on the clock, Mjelde raced on to Karen Carney's cross to fire in at the back post. It was one of the most important moments of her Chelsea career, sending the Blues into the last four.

Manchester United (A) - January 2020

Our first ever triumph in the League Cup came back in 2020. But a dramatic final against Arsenal at the City Ground would not have taken place without a moment of magic from Mjelde in the semi-final.

In a tough tie at Leigh Sports Village, Chelsea were struggling for control against Manchester United. In the only competition Emma Hayes was yet to win during her reign as manager, she needed someone to turn the tide.

Thankfully, Mjelde did just that. Guro Reiten's cross found her Norway teammate, who cleverly directed her shot into the United net. That goal was enough to progress. Six weeks later the Blues finally secured a maiden League Cup victory.

Man City (H) - September 2022

After a surprise loss at Liverpool on the opening day, our title defence needed a jump start on the second weekend of the 2022/23 season. Yet we were to face a huge challenge with fellow contenders Manchester City the visitors to Kingsmeadow.

Even though it was early in the season, the fixture would play a huge role in deciding the outcome of the title. Fran Kirby put us in front three minutes before half-time, but with time starting to run out, City were pressing for an equaliser.

But when Sophie Ingle's goal-bound shot took a deflection off the raised arm of Leila Ouahabi, the Blues had a huge chance to seal the win. It was a penalty loaded with pressure, but Mjelde stepped up. Converting coolly, a huge three points was duly sealed.

Lyon (H) - March 2023

European powerhouses Lyon were the opponents in the 2023 Champions League quarter-finals, in what would prove to be one of the most dramatic nights in Blues' history.

A 1-0 win over Lyon in the first leg gave us the advantage but the eight-time champions brought their best to Stamford Bridge. Vanessa Gilles’s second-half goal sent the tie to extra-time where Sara Däbritz’s goal looked to have sent them into the final four.

However, in the dying seconds Lauren James was deemed to have been felled by Vicki Bècho after a VAR check. It gave Mjelde one kick of the ball from the penalty spot to send the tie to a decisive shootout.

In typical fashion, Mjelde buried her penalty. The rest of that dramatic night is well told. Berger became the hero in the shootout, making two saves as the Blues triumphed. But we never would have got to that stage without Mjelde showing nerves of steel with the last kick of normal play.

'For Maren to do what she did, she’s a Chelsea legend,' Hayes said after a famous night.

In truth, Maren Mjelde was already a Chelsea legend by that point and she will continue to be for a long time after she departs the club.