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England defender Lucy Bronze will move to Chelsea despite initial interest from the National Women’s Football League (NWSL), sources have told ESPN.
Barcelona showed last week that the right-back would leave the club when his contract expires after two seasons with the Champions League champions.
Sources told ESPN that even though Bronze was interested in the NWSL and needed to cross the Atlantic, an expired but significant offer from Chelsea prompted the 32-year-old to return to England.
Although a deal has yet to be closed, Chelsea are the leading candidates to sign the foreigner from England in one of the most prominent moves of the summer as they usher in their new era Sonia Bompastor.
The former Lyon coach’s tenure began on Monday, marking the first replacement for the team in more than a decade. Former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes left the club after 12 years at the end of last season to take on the role of the team’s head coach. U. S. Women’s National Team.
Bronze is one of the most decorated players in women’s football and a standout defensive figure of her generation. He won 123 caps for England and was a key component of his country’s Euro 2022 winning team.
At club level, he won the Champions League three times: three times with his former club Lyon and twice with Barca.
The bronze came to Barça from Manchester City in the Women’s Super League (WSL). With Barça he won seven titles out of eight imaginable, played 70 games with the Spanish champions and scored five goals.
Seven-time WSL champions Chelsea are looking to bolster their squad with new additions, but will also want to get rid of several players and employ the loan formula to expand their young talent. Lately they have 37 registered players, with only 25 spots being on the team.
Reporting by ESPN’s Jeff Kassouf contributed to this report.