Chelsea Women have launched the first dedicated fertility and maternity support policies in the Women's Super League. The landmark initiative, announced on Sunday, provides players with confidential medical and financial resources to balance elite football with family life.
Head coach Sonia Bompastor and former goalkeeper Carly Telford, now a commercial manager for the club, have championed the programme. "As a club, it's always been really important for us to support our players the best way possible," said Bompastor. The policies are voluntary and cover a wide range of support, from family planning consultations and fertility treatments like egg freezing to individualised maternity assistance and subsidised childcare.
A dedicated fund is available to all players, covering costs for in vitro fertilisation, cervical screening, contraception and information sessions. The maternity policy includes enhanced parental leave, salary support during pregnancy and recovery, and financial help for a partner or nanny to travel to away matches in the year after a player returns. Medical information is shared confidentially only between doctors at the partner clinic, Fertility Plus, and the club's own specialists.
Personal experience drives change
Bompastor, a mother of four, highlighted the lack of support she experienced during her own playing career. The new framework aims to change that for current athletes. "You don't have to choose anymore between your professional career and your personal life being a mum," said Carly Telford. "Now, both are possible." The club hopes the move will set a new standard for women's health in sport, building on its 2020 introduction of menstrual cycle tracking.
While no current Chelsea player has yet publicly stated an intention to use the new resources, the club has recent experience with players returning after having children, such as Melanie Leupolz in 2022. The announcement comes as Chelsea Women sit fourth in the standings with seven points from three games. The team is in strong form with four wins and a draw from their last five outings, scoring eight goals while conceding just one. This solid defensive record is a key part of their stats profile this season.
Chelsea will continue to promote the voluntary programme as they prepare for the rest of the season, aiming to close a five-point gap to league leaders Manchester City. The squad will look to maintain their momentum in upcoming fixtures as they integrate this new support system into the fabric of the club.
More detail at Sky Sports Football
