SEVENTH HEAVEN? Blues Hungry for More Success

Last season Chelsea made it six times in a row. Can last season’s invincible champions under Sonia Bompastor make it seven consecutive titles? Having seen that the Blues have just added another striker, Alyssa Thompson, Danny Milwain certainly thinks so.

Head Coach: In her second season in charge, Sonia Bompastor returns ready to win yet another league title. The former OL Lyonesse (Lyon) manager has won the league every single season that she’s been in the dugout for a senior women’s team. Unrivalled success and a fearsome opponent for any team in the WSL, and she’s already excited at the prospect.

A seemingly perfect transition last season having taken over an incredibly organised and bullish team from Emma Hayes, Sonia gave us a different sort of Chelsea with the team scoring 99 goals in all competitions last year; more free flowing football and plenty of flair encouraged, though being a perfectionist she’s already targeted performance as well as results this time, in what she calls “the most competitive league in the world”.

New Signings: Livia Peng, Ellie Carpenter, Becky Spencer, Mara Alber, Alyssa Thompson

Outlook: Last season it was all just too easy. Chelsea were a juggernaut from the off, scoring 10 goals in 3 games. New signings flew out the traps and the rest of the league could do nothing but stare up at Chelsea who lived at the top of the table for 21 straight game weeks.

Fresh from their Euro 2025 win, Chelsea will have Lionesses superstars Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Lauren James, Niamh Charles, and Aggie Beever-Jones (below, centre) back in the squad. Though Bronze (below, left) and LJ look like their Euros injuries may keep them out for a while. ABJ has looked sharp, scoring an impressive hattrick in a pre-season 4-1 win against AC Milan. Bompastor says: “I am confident Aggie will step up.” And I don’t think goals will be hard to come by for Chelsea again this season.

The signings of Livia Peng and Becky Spencer give great competition in the goalkeeping department, with Peng coming off an amazing run of form during the Euros with Switzerland. Ellie Carpenter is the new blood in the right wing back area and will provide Lucy Bronze with excellent competition for a first team place.

Rytting Kaneyrd (below, right) will be one to keep an eye on after her dazzling shows on the right wing last year and for Sweden in the Euros. I also expect more marauding runs from left wing back by Sandy Baltimore, who was simply unstoppable at times last season.

Once she’s back from an injury that could keep her out for a few months, the powerful Mayra Ramirez should lead the line again for the champions. In the meantime, however, they’ve looked for a replacement, dipping back into the transfer market for Alyssa Thompson from the NWSL for a cool million quid.

There are honestly far too many superstars to name in this Chelsea side and because of that I just can’t see anything other than them winning yet another WSL title. Oh, and one last thing: Sam Kerr looks like she’s back!

Will Finish: 1st