Chelsea confirm departure of two key players in the summer

Chelsea Women have confirmed that the club is set to be without two key players who are set to depart the club when the current season ends. 

Current captain Magdalena Eriksson has announced her departure from the club at the end of the current season and will be followed by Danish striker Pernille Harder, who joined the Blues in the summer of 2020. 

Eriksson’s exit was the first to be announced by Chelsea, who teased an emotional goodbye to the Swedish defender when her current contract expires at the end of the season. 

In their statement, the club described Eriksson as “a leader on the pitch” and “one of the greats to have pulled on the shirt.” 

Chelsea manager, Emma Hayes, also said about the four-time FAWSL champion, “There are not enough words to describe the impact Magda has had, not just on this football club but on me. She has been a wonderful leader, someone who has helped drive the team and it’s standards to the levels that we’re at.

“Chelsea will always be her club, it will always be her home. She will forever remain a legend of this football club. She goes with my blessing and I wish her the best for her future.”

With Eriksson’s departure from the club certain, Chelsea also announced that she will be joined in leaving the club by her partner, striker Harder, who will also depart when her contract also expires. 

Harder has been with the club since 2020 and moved partly to be together with Eriksson, so their joint departure was expected. 

On Harder’s departure, Emma Hayes said, “Pernille is one of the best attacking players in the world and you see all of them qualities day in, day out. She has always been so driven to succeed, to get to the top and to help the team win trophies.” 

It is unclear where both will play their football next season, but it is likely that they will end up playing for the same club again after departing the Blues.