Alyssa Thompson’s Potential Transfer to Chelsea
Alyssa Thompson, a forward for Angel City FC, has boarded a flight from Los Angeles to London as discussions heat up for a potential transfer to Chelsea, the reigning champions of England, according to multiple reports received by ESPN. As the transfer window in England draws to a close at 11 p.m. local time on Thursday, sources indicate that while a deal has not yet been finalized, Thompson’s appearance at the airport suggests negotiations could be nearing a conclusion.
Thompson’s Recent Absence and Performance
The talented 20-year-old was absent from Angel City’s recent match against Bay FC, which took place on Monday, but her absence was officially designated as excused. Angel City’s head coach, Alexander Straus, who took the helm earlier this year, referred to the past few days as
“difficult”
following their 2-1 victory in that game.
Despite the ongoing speculation about Thompson’s future, Angel City has refrained from making official comments regarding the unfolding transfer situation. During the current NWSL season, Thompson has proven to be a valuable player for the team, netting six goals and providing two assists. Earlier this year, she committed her future to Angel City by signing a three-year extension that binds her to the club until the 2028 NWSL season. Her younger sister, Gisele, also secured an extension with the club at the same time.
Thompson’s Career Highlights
Thompson, who hails from Los Angeles, made headlines when she opted to pursue a professional career instead of attending Stanford, with whom she had previously committed. The forward was the first player ever to be drafted directly from high school, being selected first overall in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Remarkably, at just 18 years old, she also became the youngest member of the USA Women’s World Cup squad later that year. She first represented the senior US Women’s National Team (USWNT) against England in a match at Wembley Stadium on October 7, 2022, in front of an impressive crowd of 90,000.
Transfer Market Dynamics
Chelsea has increasingly focused on acquiring talent from the USWNT, previously bringing in Catarina Macario and Naomi Girma, the latter of whom was signed for a then-record fee of $1.1 million in January. As for Thompson, the expected transfer fee is rumored to exceed $1 million, solidifying her position among the NWSL’s premier players. This follows the impressive sale by the Orlando Pride, which made headlines earlier this year for paying $1.5 million to Tigres for Mexican forward Lizbeth Jacqueline Ovalle, setting a new world record for a transfer in the league.
