Chelsea have officially announced that iconic striker Sam Kerr will leave the club upon the expiry of her contract at the end of the current season. The Australian star’s departure marks the conclusion of a glittering six-and-a-half-year journey in West London, during which she established herself as one of the most prolific scorers in women’s football history.

Since joining the Blues in late 2019, Kerr has become an integral figure in the most successful period of Chelsea Women’s history. A consistent performer and leader, she has been central to the club’s dominance in English domestic football. Her final appearance for Chelsea is scheduled against Manchester United this Saturday.

Across all competitions, Kerr has featured 157 times for the club, making her Chelsea’s fourth-highest appearance maker. Beyond her on-field exploits, she has been a global ambassador for the team during a transformative era for the women’s game. The 32-year-old leaves as one of the sport’s most recognisable figures and a symbol of Chelsea’s rise.

Reflecting on her journey, Kerr said: “When I reflect on my Chelsea career and doing it for the last time against Manchester United this Saturday, I just feel happy. Happy that it happened, and I feel so grateful to have played for this club for six years and won as many trophies as we could.”

Known for her trademark backflip celebrations, Kerr’s time in London was filled with iconic moments. The Matildas captain captured five Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups, and three League Cups, cementing her legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.

Her goal-scoring record is equally remarkable, with 115 goals to her name—just one shy of all-time top scorer Fran Kirby. Kerr’s clinical finishing earned her two WSL Golden Boots and a second-place finish in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, the highest ranking ever achieved by an Australian footballer.

Despite suffering a serious knee injury in January 2024, Kerr’s determination never wavered. After an extended recovery, she marked her 100th Chelsea goal against Aston Villa earlier this season. She later became the club’s all-time leading scorer in the WSL, netting her 64th league goal against Leicester City.

Sharing her thoughts ahead of her final match, Kerr told fans: “Unfortunately this is for real this time, I wanted you to hear it from me, but this Saturday will be my final game for Chelsea.”

She added: “I definitely don’t want this to be a sad conversation, I want it to be not a celebration but remember all the good times we’ve had together.”

Expressing gratitude for her time in West London, Kerr said it had been “an absolute honour” to represent Chelsea and its supporters over the past six and a half years. Looking ahead to her farewell game, she added: “I’ve had the best memories and, yeah, hopefully we can make one more amazing memory on Saturday.”

Confirming her exit, Kerr concluded: “I just wanted you guys to hear it first from me, that unfortunately I will be leaving the club, but yeah, one more game to go.”