The England international joins the Blues with a wealth of experiences gained at club and country across the globe. Those moments have shaped Bronze as a person, player and the trajectory of her career.

Before winning five Champions Leagues, countless domestic trophies in three different countries, and the European Championships with England, there was the young Lucy who left home at only 17 years old.

In the summer of 2009, Bronze would travel Stateside. She moved to North Carolina for university and turned out for the Tar Heels, the most successful Division 1 team in the USA.

Not only did her time in the United States expose her to a new style of football in new surroundings, it showed a young Bronze what it takes to win. And that is something she knows all too well now at 32 years old.

‘Being in America at such a young age had a huge influence on me,’ explained Bronze. ‘It was where I realised [being so competitive] was it. Not only was it okay, but it was the right way to be competitive, to want to win.

‘I think the US have always had that strong mentality that we've not seen as much in Europe.

‘I went there and it was I was like a kid in a candy shop and explained why these players are amazing. They're so determined. Their mentalities are crazy. That's what I want to be.

‘I’ve realised since that winning is addictive – that comes from my time in the US and how competitive it was.

‘It was tough being away from home, from where I’d learnt to play football, but I think that made me the player I am. That really shaped me more than anything else in my career at such a young age. I then knew how to be a winner and that has driven me every year since.’

Fast forward six years and Bronze experienced another career-defining moment in the form of the 2015 World Cup. After being an unused player at the 2013 European Championships, this major tournament was a chance for Bronze to make her mark with the Lionesses.

On the way to a bronze medal in Canada, Bronze scored a stunning winner against Norway which gave the Lionesses their first-ever knockout win in the World Cup.

Bronze has previously said the goal - which has since been named by Fifa as one of the best to ever be scored at a Women’s World Cup - set her career ‘alight’. Almost a decade on since the ball left her foot and struck the back of the net, she knows how important it remains to be.

Her impact in 2015 is even more impressive when taking into account Bronze travelled to Canada having had knee surgery in the few months prior, and was limited to making only four appearances at her then new club Manchester City.

‘My career did change,’ said Bronze. ‘It was definitely a pivotal moment where I really realised that for me personally, I had an opportunity to go and be one of the best players in the game, to push myself.’

Not only was it an individual moment to remember, Bronze also looks back on the 2015 World Cup as a tournament which helped pave the way for the wider landscape of the women’s game.

It was a summer, she believes, which proved to be a building block to the Lionesses going on to win the European Championships and reach a World Cup final in the years to come.

‘I just think it changed the way I saw myself and the way women's football was viewed changed a little bit after that tournament,’ added Bronze.

‘Not just because of me, but because of the whole team and achieving something with England. That run to the semi-finals was a massive moment.

‘I saw the impact it had on women's football in England… and being a part of that, being someone who helped to change the history of women's football, it was a moment that led to so much more; obviously winning the Euros and making the World Cup final since.

‘In many ways it was a high point. I think on a personal level that moment was something that I could never, ever recreate because it was the first special moment that I had as an individual.’

When the World Cup came around again four years later in 2019, Bronze was an even more established force. Since the 2015 edition, she had gone on to win silverware with Manchester City before earning a move to Lyon in 2017.

And it was in France - where the tournament was held - where she would eventually win three Champions Leagues, three league titles and three domestic cup triumphs.

But back to the 2019 World Cup… and it was against a familiar opponent when Bronze felt as good as she ever had done on the pitch. The Lionesses beat Norway 3-0 to reach the semi-finals, with her again on the scoresheet. Not only did she score, but also put in a performance which put the world on notice.

‘I remember playing the World Cup in France and having this feeling,’ she said. ‘I was playing at Lyon at the time. We'd just won every trophy possible over there and were champions of Europe.

‘Then when we played Norway, I scored again against them and I know people will look and say it’s because of the goal that I scored – but, it was my total performance in that game. I just felt like this is it - I was totally dominant.

‘I felt on top of the world. I think I got an assist as well and all the things I was doing, defending up and down, doing everything, and it was just like life was a breeze. That game was one of my best for sure, I didn’t realise how much control I could have.’

Her performance earned the plaudits of those watching on. One such being England legend David Beckham. He passed on a message to Bronze via his former teammate and then England boss Phil Neville.

‘After that game Phil was like, “I need to send you a video because I've got a message for you”,’ explained Bronze.

‘David Beckham had sent me a message saying, “Lucy, that game was unbelievable. The goal was unbelievable. I have never seen a performance like that in an England shirt for so long, you were outstanding”.

‘Having someone of his standing in the game say such amazing things, it was like, this is me living the dream.’

After three successful seasons at Lyon, Bronze returned to England for her second spell at Manchester City. She would spend two seasons at the WSL club before a new adventure in Spain.

You could be mistaken for thinking Bronze arrived at Barcelona in 2022 as the full package given her back catalogue with club and country. But, she admits, it was the lure of a new challenge which attracted her to the Catalan giants.

En-route to winning two more Champions League titles, two league titles and three domestic cups, Bronze had to embrace a lot of learnings on and off the pitch.

‘Moving to Spain and playing for Barcelona was another hugely pivotal moment I think,’ said Bronze.

‘I'm someone who loves a challenge. I like challenging myself. But this was a big decision and I wasn’t sure… and I went to Barcelona knowing it was a different style to maybe what people would put me in the bracket of - in terms of my own playing style.

‘So I learned loads all the time. I think you're always able to learn more and improve in different areas - tactically I got some real learnings.

‘It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what position you are, I think every footballer at the highest level testing themselves is learning all the time. That is what it was like at Barcelona.

‘And I absolutely love a challenge. So going somewhere and learning a new language and a different way of playing was so exciting to me. I'm just always looking for the next thing to keep me challenged and keep me on my toes.’

And that takes us to today and to Chelsea, as the next chapter of her career begins.

Bronze is a Blue.