Angel Metropolis ahead and U.S. ladies’s nationwide crew winger Alyssa Thompson has formally signed with Chelsea FC. After a protracted negotiation between the 2 golf equipment, a number of studies put the switch someplace between $1.3 million and $1.5 million. The payment marks a brand new switch document for each golf equipment. A five-year contract with Chelsea is in place for the rising star, who first cracked a significant USWNT roster through the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
The transfer makes Thompson one of the crucial costly transfers in ladies’s soccer historical past. Reigning NWSL Champions Orlando Pleasure lately set a brand new document of $1.5 million with the brand new acquisition of Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle from Liga MX Femenil’s Tigres Femenil, although London Metropolis Lionesses stole all of the switch deadline day headlines with a world document payment for France midfielder Grace Geyoro for a record $1.9 million.
The 20-year-old USWNT worldwide signed a contract with Angel Metropolis earlier this 12 months, a brand new deal by way of 2028, alongside her sister, defender Gisele Thompson. Following the information of Thompson’s departure, Angel Metropolis annonuced an extra contract extension with Gisele through 2029.
The eye across the switch is important for the worldwide market, as rising charges and valuations improve. The transfer additionally highlights the rising monetary energy of high NWSL and European golf equipment and their capability to draw high expertise throughout leagues. Thompson’s arrival at Chelsea will place her amongst an already sturdy offensive aspect.
Although the Blues striker Mayra Ramirez is rehabbing from hamstring surgical procedure, Sam Kerr is again at full health following an ACL damage, and Lauren James, Guro Reiten, Aggie Beaver Jones and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd are amongst Chelsea’s attackers. The transfer may even reunite Thompson with USWNT teammates Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma.
Whereas Thompson’s departure is a blow to Angel Metropolis’s playoff hopes, a possible substantial payment can present assets for future high-profile strikes.
What it means for Angel Metropolis and NWSL
If the worldwide market was unfamiliar with Thompson earlier than, that is not the case shifting ahead. After a record-setting arrival to the league as a high-school participant, the place Angel Metropolis traded with Portland Thorns and Gotham FC to make sure the No. 1 choose within the 2023 NWSL Draft, the Los Angeles aspect spent $450,000 to welcome her to her hometown membership.
Her fearless feats on the ball rapidly obtained the eye of NWSL followers, and her early objective scoring and play making earned her a spot on the U.S. nationwide crew for the 2023 World Cup. In her two and a half seasons in NWSL, she’s scored 15 targets and notched 11 assists. The winger is on a bounce again 12 months, after managing a minor again damage in early 2024, and has loads of MVP chatter round her 2025 season with Angel Metropolis.
The 20-year-old is taken into account to be Angel Metropolis’s greatest participant with the power to each rating and arrange teammates. A high prospect nonetheless years out from her prime, her transfer abroad can be thought of a significant loss for a membership that’s at the moment in a playoff push, and for a league that boasts it’s a top-flight place the place the perfect on the planet play.
What it means for Alyssa Thompson
No transfer like this occurs except a participant desires it to come back to fruition. With a brand new period in rising switch market values for girls’s soccer gamers, Thompson is getting the chance to develop her profession in a approach that star gamers earlier than her could not have. It is also an opportunity to develop her recreation in a brand new atmosphere.
Thompson has lengthy been tied to American youth techniques earlier than turning professional, together with Complete Futbol Academy, a boys’ membership in MLS Subsequent, Main League Soccer’s academy system.
The California native turned professional and performed together with her hometown NWSL crew, and has continued her ascent as a next-gen prolific participant within the league. However throughout Thompson’s quick two and a half years with Angel Metropolis, she’s had 4 totally different coaches. Between full-time managers and interim head coaches with Freya Coombe, Becki Tweed, Sam Laity, and now Alex Strauss, the instability is notable.
Stability, with a five-year deal and alternative to grow to be one’s prime profession years, at a high membership like Chelsea, is profitable for a lot of prospects. With roster administration already a part of Chelsea’s begin to the 2025-26 marketing campaign, with accidents to starters Mayra Ramirez and Lauren James, the timing appears proper to make her approach into the roster as a possible starter.
“Chelsea is such an incredible membership, top-of-the-line on the planet. Having the ability to play with gamers which might be the perfect on the planet is an incredible alternative at such a younger age,” Thompson stated assertion. “I need to be taught, develop and develop loads. I really feel like Chelsea is such an incredible atmosphere to do this in.”
What it means for the USWNT
U.S. nationwide crew head coach Emma Hayes has been vocal about growing younger gamers at their very own tempo. The skipper reignited the U-23 program alongside numerous worldwide home windows in 2025 alongside the senior nationwide crew. The previous Chelsea FC supervisor is accustomed to success in London. Hayes gained 15 trophies with the Blues earlier than being named to the lead place with the USWNT, together with seven league titles and 5 FA cups.
It additionally means a one-time next-gen prospect elevates to a present-day profile participant. An damage in 2024 saved Thompson off the USWNT rosters for the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup and the 2024 Summer time Olympics. Her 2025 season has gone the exact opposite approach. With typical beginning forwards unavailable for choice all year long, the winger has rapidly gone from bench-depth participant to key starter.
The USWNT’s thrilling “Triple Espresso” attacking line of Sophia Wilson, Mallory Swanson, and Trinity Rodman did not exist in 2025. Wilson and her husband lately welcomed a child, whereas Swanson is anticipating. Rodman has missed massive stretches of matches for membership and nation as she manages a again damage. If the intersection of timing and alternative is the whole lot, 2025 has aligned for Thompson.
