Alyssa Thompson is no stranger to the limelight. Despite being only 21, her undeniable natural talent and eye‑catching career have propelled her into the headlines ever since her hometown club, Angel City, made her the first pick in the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft.
The past few months, however, have provided the USA international with a different challenge altogether. A high-profile deadline day move to the English champions, Chelsea, in September meant leaving her family and the comforts of Los Angeles and testing herself overseas.
“Since I was little, I have looked up to clubs like Chelsea and Barcelona,” she says. “I feel like they are some of the biggest teams in the world. I’ve always wanted to eventually play in Europe and play on a team like Chelsea so when I got the opportunity, I couldn’t say no.
“We all want to win but especially here at Chelsea, there’s a standard of winning already. I feel like it’s kind of similar to the US team so it’s not something I’m not used to but it’s really cool to be a part of, especially at club level.”
It was not a decision she took lightly. Playing for Angel City was “a dream come true” and a real family affair. Her younger sister Gisele signed shortly afterwards, while her family were able to come to every game and it was something her national team manager, Emma Hayes, raised when discussing the potential move overseas.
“She asked me: ‘What are you going to do without Gisele?’ And I was like: ‘I don’t know but I think I should [go].’ She said that she was going to support me in anything I decide to do but just to make sure that it was the right decision for me. That was a helpful conversation in understanding and clearing my mind. She asked the right questions.”
Thompson cuts a relaxed figure at the club’s Cobham training facility as she continues to adjust to her new environment.
“I kind of think of this as like going away for college like all my friends did,” she says. “I didn’t, so this is me kind of growing up and having to leave the home … I’ve learned that I relied on my parents a lot. They did a lot of things for me that I didn’t even realise. If I needed anything I could just call them and they would fix it. I’m learning to be more responsible and I feel like that’s good for me for when I’m older.
“Living in a different place without my family is completely different from anything I’ve experienced before. It’s a lot colder here. The city is very different from LA too. So, there has been a little bit to adjust to but my teammates have helped me so much. Being able to be with [USWNT teammates] Naomi [Girma] and Cat [Macário] too has been really helpful.”
On the pitch the change has appeared seamless. After making her Chelsea debut against Aston Villa in September, her first goal followed shortly after, at Stamford Bridge against Paris FC in the Champions League – something she did not expect to happen “for six months or something” – and she has become a regular starter under Sonia Bompastor.
“Sonia teaches me a lot,” she says. “I feel like she’s really a players’ manager. Knowing that it’s hard moving to a different country, I think she just wants me to feel integrated with the team. On the field, learning about mentality is something she talks about a lot and always being aggressive and going forward. She talks about our ambitions for the year and just setting the standard and winning a lot of trophies.”
Thompson already feels she has learned a lot about her game as she adapts. “The style of play is just a little bit different,” she says. “In the NWSL, I feel more like we are in transition a lot … Here you play so many different teams with different styles. Especially being able to play in Champions League, you play teams from like Spain and Italy and you experience different philosophies of soccer and tactics.
“I feel like I’ve had to learn a lot about my game because I’ve been adjusting so much. With that comes different things that I have to think about that I didn’t have to before … I have a lot of growth to do.”
“Just being around world‑class players is amazing. I feel like I would just get better even if I wasn’t playing. Being around so many amazing players that just teach me different things every day is really cool.”
On Saturday she will be looking to feature in her second derby against Arsenal, this time at Stamford Bridge and a must-win game if Chelsea are to challenge Manchester City at the top of the Women’s Super League. Her first was memorable: she scored a sensational opener in a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium in November.
“I was in awe of how many people were there and I could hear everything,” she recalls. “It was really cool. Just being able to play at the Emirates was crazy. It’s always going to be a rivalry when two really good teams face each other, but I don’t think I really understood the history of the England culture of it all. I’m learning.
“I love playing at Stamford Bridge. The field is amazing and just having our fans there and hearing the roars of the crowd is really exciting. I’m excited for a competitive game that hopefully we’ll win.”
