Chelsea have announced the signing of 22-year-old Canada international Jessie Fleming, with the midfielder taking her first step into the professional game having played collegiate soccer in the United States with UCLA Bruins until last year.
Fleming already has a tremendous amount of experience for her age, having made close to 80 international appearances for Canada following a senior debut at just 15 in 2013.
Fleming has signed a three-year contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2023 and has been handed the club’s number 17 shirt.
“I knew I really wanted to play in the WSL,” the player told her new club’s official website. “I think the league is doing really well right now and there is a ton of fantastic players in the league so that really excited me.
“For Chelsea it was the players here and I wanted to be in a challenging environment. Having conversations with Emma [Hayes] and learning a bit more about the team, I was just really excited about the environment and what it has to offer.”
Hayes glowingly described Fleming as one of the ‘top young players in the world’.
“For us to be able to sign her is a testament to the work that has been done here for a number of years. She chose Chelsea, this was her priority, her first choice and we were over the moon to get her,” the Blues boss added.
Fleming with strength a Chelsea midfield already brimming with elite talent ahead of a 2020/21 season that will see the club return to the Women’s Champions League and necessitate even greater depth as Hayes’ team competes for four different trophies.
Two other news faces have already arrived this summer in the shape of experienced Germany midfielder Melanie Leupolz from Bayern Munich and ex-Liverpool forward Niamh Charles.
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Source : 90min