London’s soccer star Jessie Fleming has signed her first professional contract with Chelsea FC Women.
The 22-year-old midfielder signed a three-year contract with the FA Women’s Super League (WSL) champion Wednesday after a stellar collegiate career at UCLA.
“I knew I really wanted to play in the WSL,” Fleming said. “I think the league is doing really well right now and there is a ton of fantastic players in the league so that really excited me.”
Fleming’s contract runs through the summer of 2023.
Fleming made her Canadian senior debut at the Torneio Internacional de Brasilia as a substitute in the second half in December 2013 at age 15, the second-youngest to do so behind Kara Lang.
From London ?? to London ???????… Jessie Fleming is a Blue! ?#JessieJoinsChelsea pic.twitter.com/fvaSDmqChG
Since then she has played 77 times for Canada, including the World Cup in 2015 and 2019.
Last summer in France, Fleming scored her first World Cup goal and was named the Player of the Match in Canada’s 2-0 victory over New Zealand.
She was also part of the team which won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
At UCLA, Fleming scored 25 goals in 75 appearances while majoring in materials engineering and minoring in environmental science. She was one of three finalists for the MAC Hermann Trophy, which honours the top NCAA soccer player, in both 2017 and 2019.
“Jessie is one of the top young players in the world, so for us to be able to sign her is a testament to the work that has been done here for a number of years. She chose Chelsea, this was her priority, her first choice and we were over the moon to get her,’ said Chelsea FC manager Emma Hayes on the Chelsea website.
Chelsea FC was one of the founding members of the FA Women’s Super League, which is the top level of women’s soccer in England. Fleming is the only Canadian-born player on the club roster.
They have captured three of the past five league titles. And they’re hoping that the addition of Fleming can help them win it all again.
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