STRIKER Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea when her contract expires at the end of the season after a glittering career at the club.

The Australian is currently one short of matching Chelsea’s record goalscorer Fran Kirby having netted 115 times in 157 appearances for the club since joining in January 2020.

Kerr has been one of the stars of a trophy-laden spell for the Blues, twice winning the Women’s Super League Golden Boot and helping the side to five WSL titles, three Women’s FA Cups and three League Cups.

The 32-year-old said on chelseafc.com: “When I reflect on my Chelsea career and doing it for the last time, 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.”

There have been difficult times, too, with Kerr sidelined for 20 months after sustaining a knee ligament injury in January 2024.

She was also charged with racially aggravated harassment against a police officer in January 2024 following an incident in London, being found not guilty 13 months later following a high-profile trial.

Kerr, who captains the Australia national team, is set to make her final appearance for Chelsea in tomorrow’s WSL clash with Manchester United.

This season she has scored 16 goals, becoming Chelsea’s leading WSL scorer, and the club said: “We thank Sam for her incredible contribution to our success on the pitch and sustained growth off it. We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her career.”