Chelsea Women are targeting a return to Women's Super League glory and a first Champions League title this season. Head coach Sonia Bompastor and defender Ellie Carpenter both acknowledged the club's ongoing rebuild following a third-place finish in the 2025/26 campaign.
That final league standing saw Chelsea end the season with 49 points from 22 games, recording 15 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses. They finished six points behind champions Manchester City, a gap they are determined to close. The team's recent form of four wins and a draw to close the season provides a platform, but the aim is to fight for every trophy available.
Chelsea are entering a critical phase. The 2025/26 season was a disappointment by the club's high standards. They only secured the League Cup while finishing third behind Manchester City and Arsenal. A significant squad overhaul has seen legends like Millie Bright retire and Sam Kerr move to the USA, with Niamh Charles, Guro Reiten, and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd also departing. "Chelsea are going through a bit of a transition phase at the moment. A lot of legends have gone," said Ellie Carpenter.
Bompastor, now in her third pre-season after replacing Emma Hayes in 2024, understands the challenge. She led the team to an unbeaten domestic treble in her first season but acknowledges the need for patience. "Chelsea are going through a transitional moment and it takes time for the club to rebuild," Bompastor stated.
Chelsea have made four summer signings to address the departures and add quality. Two key arrivals are defender Katie McCabe and 18-year-old prospect Nelly Las. McCabe brings a winning mentality, having lifted the Champions League with Arsenal. Las, who joined from Leicester, made 16 WSL appearances across the last two seasons and has featured for England's youth teams.
They join a core of players with elite European experience. Lucy Bronze, who signed a new deal this summer, has won the Champions League five times. Ellie Carpenter, Melvine Malard, and Kadeisha Buchanan were all part of Sonia Bompastor's victorious Champions League squad at Lyon. This collective know-how is seen as vital for a club that has never won Europe's top prize, a main goal for the season. The blend of new signings and existing winners is detailed on our stats page.
Analysing the final 2025 table reveals the scale of the task. Chelsea scored 44 goals and conceded 20, giving them a solid +24 goal difference. However, the six-point deficit to Manchester City shows the fine margins at the top. The team's consistency, reflected in a WWWWD form line to finish the season, must be maintained from the first whistle of the new campaign.
Bompastor's own pedigree is not in doubt, having won the Champions League as a manager with Lyon. Her partnership with general manager Paul Green, who departed in February 2026, oversaw years of unprecedented success following the Emma Hayes era. Now, the project is solely in her hands as she aims to restore Chelsea to the summit of English football and conquer Europe.
The upcoming WSL season presents a clear opportunity for redemption. With the new signings integrated and a pre-season under their belts, the focus is on competing on all fronts. The primary objectives are reclaiming the WSL title and making a deep run in the Champions League. For Chelsea Women, the transition is ongoing, but the ambition is immediate and unequivocal.
