By Adegboyega Adeleye
Australia captain Sam Kerr has completed a return to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), signing a four-year deal with reigning champions Gotham FC after leaving Chelsea at the end of her contract.
The move sees the 32-year-old return to the club where she previously played between 2015 and 2017, when it was known as Sky Blue FC. According to the BBC, Kerr has signed a contract that will keep her at Gotham through the 2030 season.
Kerr departed Chelsea in May after six-and-a-half successful years in London, ending her spell as the Blues’ all-time leading scorer in the Women’s Super League.
She netted 116 goals in 158 appearances across all competitions, winning five WSL titles, three Women’s FA Cups, three League Cups and the Women’s Community Shield. Her final Chelsea appearance ended on a high as she scored the winner against Manchester United.
Speaking after sealing her return, Kerr said she was delighted to be back at the New Jersey-based club.
“I’m incredibly excited to return to Gotham FC and to this city,” Kerr said.
“This club was an important part of my journey, and to come back at this moment, with everything Gotham has built, is really special.
“The ambition here is clear, and I’m looking forward to helping this team compete for trophies and create more history.”
Kerr returns to the United States as the all-time leading regular-season scorer in NWSL history, having won three consecutive Golden Boots during her first spell in the league. Her tally of 18 goals in a single season stood as the league record until it was surpassed in 2024.
Her arrival is regarded as a major boost for the NWSL after several top players left for Europe last year.
“Sam is one of the defining players of her generation and a game-changing talent who has consistently delivered at the highest levels of world football,” Gotham FC president of soccer operations Yael Averbuch West said, according to Reuters.
“Bringing Sam back to Gotham is a landmark moment for our club, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
Kerr joined Chelsea in January 2020 from Chicago Red Stars in what was then considered one of the biggest transfers in Women’s Super League history. She finished runner-up for the 2023 Ballon d’Or after scoring 29 goals in 38 matches as Chelsea completed a domestic double.
Her career was temporarily halted by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in January 2024, sidelining her for more than 18 months before she returned during the second half of the 2025-26 campaign.
During her rehabilitation, Kerr married former United States international Kristie Mewis, with the couple welcoming their son last year.
