Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle she signed a new two-year contract extension with the WSL champions.
The Wales captain has been in excellent form this season and will now stay at the club at least until the summer of 2025, committing her immediate future to the West London club. There had been speculation she could leave the Blues, but Ingle's future is now confirmed in a big boost to manager Emma Hayes ahead of the January transfer window.
The midfielder has been in excellent form throughout the season, scoring in a crucial win over Real Madrid and producing a string of dominant displays in the WSL. After the contract news was revealed, the Chelsea number five explained that she now considers Kingsmeadow to be her second home.
"I’m really delighted to sign for Chelsea again," Ingle told the club's official website. "I feel like this club is home away from home.
"I’ve settled in from the very first moment that I signed about five years ago. I’m really delighted to continue this journey with this amazing club."
Chelsea general manager Paul Green also commented on Ingle’s extension: "We are delighted that Sophie has extended her contract. She has great experience and is a leader within the group.
"She has been a key player in our success over the last few years, and we look forward to that continuing."
Over the last few seasons, Ingle appears to have reached her prime years, with an outstanding campaign in 2020/21 as the Blues won the WSL title and FA Cup. Only three teammates finished with more appearances that season as she cemented herself as a key part of Hayes' line-up.
This season, Ingle has continued her progress, making 15 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals which both came in the Champions League, also netting in the away win at Vllaznia, as well as her strike against Real. Since her return to the club in 2018, Chelsea have won three WSL titles, the Continental Cup, two FA Cups and the Community Shield, and also reached the 2021 Champions League final.
Ingle was famously nominated for the Puskas Award in 2020 for her stunning long-range effort against Arsenal in the WSL. At international level, Ingle represented Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics and has been capped over 100 times for Wales and very nearly led them to the 2023 FIFA World Cup Finals, only missing out after a play-off defeat to Switzerland.
The news of Ingle's new deal is a big boost to Blues fans who only days ago discovered that forward Beth England will move across town to Tottenham in the New Year for a record transfer fee.
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