Alyssa Thompson has recorded three goals in 22 appearances for the United States.
Chelsea Football Club has reportedly agreed to a club-record deal to acquire U.S. Women’s National Team forward Alyssa Thompson from Angel City FC.
The 20-year-old has undergone a medical examination and is anticipated to sign a five-year contract with the Blues.
Sources within Chelsea indicate the transfer fee is just under £1 million. This would fall short of the Women’s Super League (WSL) record, which stands at £1 million paid by Arsenal for Canadian forward Olivia Smith from Liverpool in July.
However, sources in the United States contest this figure, asserting that the initial fee is £1.1 million, with the potential to reach £1.4 million through performance-based add-ons.
Smith’s transfer briefly held the world record for approximately one month, before being surpassed by Mexican forward Lizbeth Ovalle’s £1.1 million ($1.5 million) move from Tigres to Orlando Pride.
Thompson is considered one of the most promising talents globally, and the acquisition will surpass Chelsea’s previous transfer record for U.S. defender Naomi Girma from San Diego Wave in January.
She arrives to bolster Chelsea’s attacking options, following a significant hamstring injury sustained by striker Mayra Ramirez, which will sideline the Colombian international until January, and the absence of England forward Lauren James from the season opener against Manchester City.
Chelsea is set to host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Friday night (19:30 BST), and the signing of Thompson is expected to be well-received by home supporters.
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With six consecutive WSL titles to their name, Chelsea demonstrates a continued ambition to maintain their position at the forefront of the league.
The club remains focused on securing their first Women’s Champions League title and has consistently supported manager Sonia Bompastor since her arrival a year ago.
This support has included providing the resources to acquire U.S. international Girma, successfully competing against French side Lyon in the process, and bringing in Australian full-back Ellie Carpenter from eight-time European champions Lyon this summer.
The addition of Thompson further strengthens the squad.
These transfer window acquisitions reflect Chelsea’s ongoing ambition and awareness of rival clubs striving to close the gap.
Arsenal’s impressive victory over Barcelona in the previous season’s Champions League final has positioned them as a strong contender, leading the Gunners to secure Smith, former Liverpool vice-captain Taylor Hinds, and England winger Chloe Kelly on a permanent transfer from Manchester City.
Injuries within Chelsea’s attacking line threatened to create a disadvantage at the start of the campaign, but with Arsenal’s reinforcements and significant investments from newly promoted WSL side London City Lionesses, the Blues responded decisively.
This proactive approach has allowed them to maintain their dominance and establish themselves as one of the most successful teams in English women’s football history.
Thompson’s arrival represents not only the latest in a series of high-profile acquisitions for the club but also a clear statement of intent to secure a European title.
For the young forward, it is an opportunity to make a significant impact on the European stage, participate in Champions League football, and experience a different style of play.
She has already established herself as an international player under U.S. boss Emma Hayes, formerly of Chelsea, and this move represents an exciting new chapter in her career.
The transfer is a setback for the National Women’s Soccer League, which loses one of its rising stars, and for Angel City, who resisted Chelsea’s attempts to negotiate a sale.
The WSL aspires to be recognized as the premier domestic league in women’s football globally, and this transfer is a significant step in that direction.
Thompson’s reputation has rapidly grown, having been selected as the first overall pick in the NWSL draft by Angel City in 2023 while still in high school.
Angel City paid Portland Thorns and Gotham FC $450,000 (£335,000) to secure the top pick, effectively making her the league’s most valuable player at the time, surpassing the previous record held by U.S. icon Alex Morgan.
Thompson scored on her NWSL debut in just 11 minutes. A year later, she lined up alongside her sister Gisele, marking the first time siblings were named in the starting XI for the same team in league history.
The sisters have also played together for the United States, with Chelsea’s newest addition being part of the squad that competed at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and won gold at the 2024 Olympic Games under manager Hayes.
Angel City sought to retain Thompson after her impressive start to her career, leading to a contract extension in January that tied her to the club until 2028.
This proved to be a crucial decision for the club, enabling them to command a higher transfer fee from Chelsea this summer.
Thompson’s pace is a defining characteristic, demonstrated by her success in track running at school where she set a record time of 11.69 seconds in the 100m at the California state championships.
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