Sam Kerr’s Chelsea Era May Be Coming to an End
Sam Kerr’s time at Chelsea appears to be drawing to a close, as her chances of securing one last trophy with the club were dashed by a Manchester City superstar who is expected to replace her next season. The Women’s FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Manchester City ended in heartbreak for the Blues, with a 2-0 lead slipping away and costing them a spot in the final.
Manchester City, the newly crowned champions of the Women’s Super League, capitalized on the skill of Mary Fowler and the ruthless finishing of Khadija Shaw to clinch a 3-2 victory at Stamford Bridge. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Chelsea initially leading 1-0 after a crucial goal from Kerr.
Kerr, who has established herself as the tournament’s top goal scorer, found the back of the net when an error by City goalkeeper Khiara Keating allowed her to score. This brought her total to 19 goals in 17 FA Cup games. However, she had another chance to extend her record to 20 goals in 17 games just minutes later, only to be denied by the referee after the ball went out of play in the build-up to the cross that put her in a scoring position.
As the match approached the 80th minute, Chelsea’s dominance began to wane. In the 84th minute, Mary Fowler came off the bench and immediately made an impact, scoring the visitors’ first goal of the match two minutes later. This goal proved to be the catalyst for City’s resurgence, with Khadija Shaw stepping up to score late goals and secure an unlikely victory.
Shaw, like Kerr, is set to be without a contract at the end of the season and has not yet confirmed her future. However, she has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, where she would join Sonia Bompastor. The Jamaican striker, known by her nickname “Bunny” due to her love of carrots as a child, has also received offers from the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League and some European leagues.
The WSL transfer window officially opens on June 15, but Chelsea is reportedly ready to make a big move for Shaw. The Athletic reports that the club has offered a deal worth at least $1.8 million AUD per year, which is believed to be one year longer than the offer from Manchester City. If accepted, Shaw would become the highest-paid player in the competition, surpassing Kerr, who currently holds the title with a deal worth $900,000.
It has been widely reported that Kerr is set to join the Denver Summit in the NWSL next season. Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has expressed her interest in securing another talented striker, especially after the team struggled in the absence of Kerr and Aggie Beever-Jones due to injury at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Bompastor praised Shaw, highlighting her potential to win her third successive WSL Golden Boot after scoring 19 goals in 21 games this season. “Who wouldn’t have (Shaw) on their personal wish list? Someone crazy, maybe?” she said prior to the FA Cup semi-final clash on Monday. “I’m a confident person … I trust my club and the ambitions we have.”
Meanwhile, Shaw and Manchester City will face Brighton in the Women’s FA Cup final on June 1 at Wembley Stadium. Before that, City will take on West Ham for their final game of the Women’s Super League season on May 16. Chelsea will host Manchester United on the same day, potentially marking Kerr’s final appearance for the club.
