'Golden' Sam Kerr can be face of Chelsea's future after penning new deal

As Chelsea set to work dismantling Manchester United on the final day of the Women’s Super League (WSL) season, there was a sideshow unfolding in the Old Trafford stands.

Sam Kerr, who was unavailable for selection having ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) four months prior, was watching proceedings from the Directors' Box and quickly assumed the role of human barometer, her body language charting each flashpoint that occurred on the pitch.

Every goal was greeted with feverish celebration, every miscued pass with a sigh of frustration. As the clock ticked toward full-time and, as such, the deliverance of Chelsea’s fifth consecutive WSL title, Kerr raised a triumphant fist in the direction of the travelling fans, who in turn serenaded her with a chorus of ‘We want you to stay’.

It was an afternoon that illustrated her superstar status at Kingsmeadow; the Australian still at the centre of the action despite playing no part in the match itself. And, on Thursday, those travelling fans got their wish as Kerr put pen to paper on a new deal that will see her stay at the club until at least the summer of 2026.

“It’s really exciting and a very proud moment for me,” the striker said. “Having the opportunity to stay at a club like Chelsea means a lot to me. I’m really excited to continue to push and to try to win trophies."

It was a development that had never really seemed to be in doubt, despite the club’s attempts to prank their millions of social media followers by releasing a spoof video hinting at Kerr’s departure minutes before announcing her new contract. It is understood the forward made the decision to stay at Chelsea back in January, although supporters will no doubt have been relieved to receive confirmation of the news ahead of June 30, when her previous deal was set to expire.

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For the Blues, retaining Kerr’s services has always been near the top of their priority list, particularly considering the club is about to embark on a new era under former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor. Emerging into that new era without Emma Hayes, who left west London after a glittering 12-year tenure at the end of the season, will be challenging enough; losing Kerr as well would have been close to inconceivable.

The 30-year-old has scored 99 goals in 128 matches since joining Chelsea from Chicago Red Stars in 2019. During her time in the WSL, no one has scored more goals, nor had more shots, and her trophy haul speaks volumes about the efficacy of her union with the Blues.

In addition to her five league titles, Kerr has bagged three FA Cups, two League Cups and a Community Shield. She has also won the Golden Boot twice and finished runner-up at last year’s Ballon d’Or awards.

Her value to Chelsea, though, cannot simply be distilled into goals scored and trophies won. Kerr’s success is such that she now transcends the world of women’s football and her marketability is also a valuable asset for the Blues.

"She is golden in every way, shape and form,” Hayes said of her talismanic striker back in May 2023. “She is one of the best I’ve ever coached. She’s outstanding.

“She manages pressure, expectation. She does it with joy. She does it with a smile on her face. I wouldn't trade Sam Kerr for any other player in the world.”

Indeed, it was Hayes who was the driving force behind Kerr’s transfer from the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in America, where she was twice named the division’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chelsea’s Executive Manager Adrian Jacob described her switch to Kingsmeadow as “probably the biggest transfer in women’s football history”, though surely neither he nor Hayes could have foreseen the heady heights the Australian would reach in west London.

News of Kerr’s signing was initially met with a mixed reception by her soon-to-be teammates, as documented in DAZN’s fly-on-the wall series ‘This is Chelsea’. In one scene, General Manager Paul Green reveals that giving the Australian her favoured No. 20 shirt - at the time occupied by left-back Jonna Andersson - was among the conditions of her transfer, while defender Jess Carter admits she feared Kerr was “going to come in and be all big-time and arrogant”.

Any apathy towards the striker, though, quickly dissipated and she has since established herself as Chelsea’s ultimate big-game player, finding the back of the net in all three of the club’s FA Cup final triumphs.

Last summer, she carried the weight of her home nation on her shoulders at the Women’s World Cup in Australia, battling to overcome a calf injury that kept her out of the group stage before returning to help the Matildas’ to a fourth-place finish - their best ever in the tournament.

"She can be the passion and the heart of the team when needs be,” Australia boss Tony Gustavsson said. “She can drive people, demand and be that voice."

That Kerr’s voice will now continue to resonate within the walls of Kingsmeadow is a huge boost for the Blues as they embark on their new era under Bompastor. The new head coach is set to inherit an excellent squad but the Australian’s talent and knowhow will surely be imperative if Chelsea are to get their hands on that elusive Champions League trophy next term.

Over the past four-and-a-half seasons, Kerr has evolved into a bonafide sporting icon and, whatever her next Chelsea chapter brings, it is almost guaranteed to be something very special.