What next for Chelsea & Kerr as striker exits?

Sam Kerr won the WSL title in every season at Chelsea apart from her last

Sam Kerr's arrival at Chelsea in 2020 was the biggest transfer in Women's Super League history and there were huge expectations on the striker to deliver.

After six-and-a-half years at the club, Kerr has exceeded any expectations and will go down as one of Chelsea's greatest players - and one of the WSL's.

The 32-year-old has confirmed she will leave the Blues at the end of the season following a trophy-laden career in England.

Sam Kerr missed most of 2023-24 and 2024-25 with an ACL injury

The Australia forward has been one of the greatest goalscorers in women's football over the past decade and has won 11 major trophies at Chelsea.

From thumping headers to audacious lobs and acrobatic backflips, Kerr has shown it all during her spell in London.

Kerr arrived from Chicago Red Stars in January 2020 after agreeing a move with former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

Despite leaving the USA six years ago, Kerr remains the all-time leading scorer in the National Women's Soccer League.

She also held the Australian W-League record upon her arrival at Chelsea and still sits third in the list.

Kerr picked up the Golden Boot for three years in a row in the US - her last tally of 18 was the highest in a single campaign until Temwa Chawinga scored 21 in 2024.

Goalscoring records continued at Chelsea as she struck 16 times in 29 games in all competitions this season, becoming the club's all-time WSL top scorer with 64.

She has twice won the Golden Boot and was the WSL player of the season in 2022 and the PFA fans' player of the year in 2021 and 2022.

In 2023, she finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting after netting 29 goals in 38 appearances as the Blues secure a WSL and FA Cup double.

Kerr's 158th - and final - appearance could come on Saturday as Chelsea end the season at home to Manchester United.

She departs as the Blues' fourth-highest appearance maker and could move level with all-time leading scorer Fran Kirby (112) if she scores on Saturday.

But it is also the timing of her goals that have proven so crucial, with 22 of them proving to be the winning strike in WSL games.

The Australia captain, who is the record scorer for her country, has also netted in five FA Cup finals and five League Cup finals.

She will depart having won five WSL titles, three FA Cups, three League Cups and the Community Shield.

Sam Kerr's backflip celebrations are iconic

Kerr's leading status at Chelsea was unquestionable before she sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in January 2024.

It took her more than 18 months to recover and she only returned to full fitness in the second half of the current season - after Chelsea's title challenge had faltered.

In her absence during 2024-25, Chelsea went unbeaten domestically and won the treble in manager Sonia Bompastor's debut campaign.

Off the pitch, Kerr endured difficulties too. She was found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment against a Metropolitan Police officer in 2025 after a court case which played out in the public eye and caused controversy.

That led to calls in her home country to strip her of the Australia captaincy, while she stepped out of the limelight in England.