Lucy Bronze has set her sights on becoming the first English footballer to win the Champions League with three different clubs after joining Chelsea.

Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished defenders in the women’s game, Bronze has signed a two-year deal with the Women’s Super League champions as the London club embarks on a new era under head coach Sonia Bompastor.

Despite their domestic dominance, the Champions League is the one trophy that eluded former manager Emma Hayes during her 12-year tenure at Chelsea. But securing right-back Bronze marks a statement of intent from the club, not least because she is a serial European Cup winner.

In May, the 32-year-old became the first English footballer to win the Champions League five times, moving past legendary Liverpool men’s full-back Phil Neal’s four European titles, after helping Barcelona to a 2-0 victory over Lyon.

Bronze, whose departure from Barcelona was announced by the Spanish giants last month, also won the trophy with the Catalan club in 2023 and had previously won the competition three times in a row with Lyon between 2018 and 2020. A Euro 2022 winner and a World Cup finalist last year, Bronze was also named Fifa best women’s player of the year in 2020.

Given her glittering CV, Bronze’s move is likely to be one of the highest profile transfers of the summer. Bronze – one of the most consistent performers for the Lionesses over the past decade and someone with 125 international caps – has already won the WSL three times and bagged every domestic honour in England during her spells at Sunderland, Liverpool, Everton and Manchester City.

In a statement released by Chelsea announcing her move, Bronze made no direct reference about targeting another Champions League title but said it was “surreal” to join a club “that is renowned for winning so many trophies”.

Winning the European title with the WSL champions would put her level with Clarence Seedorf, the only men’s player to have tasted Champions League glory with three different clubs.

Bronze recounted an exchange she had with Dutch star Seedorf in a recent interview for BBC 5 Live earlier this month amid speculation about her return to the WSL.

During a conversation with former England goalkeeper Carly Telford, Bronze said: “I spoke to Clarence Seedorf in Istanbul. He’s the only player who has won the Champions League with three different clubs and I was like, ‘Excuse me? Is there something else I can do?’ And then he was like, ‘So where are you going to go?’ I was like, ‘Well you tell me! We need to figure this out now.’”

Bronze will link up with Spain youth international midfielder and former club team-mate Julia Bartel, who has also joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Barcelona.

Speaking about her move, Chelsea’s general manager Paul Green said: “Lucy will bring leadership to the group. She is a serial winner and a versatile defender. She has lots of experience and a winning mentality which we feel will fit well into the squad.”