Angel City FC forward Alyssa Thompson has embarked on a trip to London, signaling a potential deal with Chelsea, according to sources close to the situation.
The deadline for signings in England ends on Thursday at 11 p.m. local time. Although an agreement between Angel City and Chelsea has not yet been finalized, Thompson’s departure suggests significant progress in the negotiations.
Thompson, 20, did not participate in Monday’s NWSL match and was excused by the team. The coach, Alexander Straus, described the previous days as “difficult” after the 2-1 victory against Bay FC.
Angel City FC has not issued any official comments regarding the potential transfer.
In the current NWSL season, Thompson has scored six goals and provided two assists for Angel City. In January, she signed a three-year contract extension, valid until 2028.
Her sister, Gisele Thompson, also signed an extension until 2028. Alyssa, originally from Los Angeles, opted for a professional career instead of attending university, being selected as number 1 in the 2023 NWSL draft.
Thompson was the first player to be recruited directly from high school. At 18 years old, she was the youngest player on the United States team at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She debuted with the senior United States national team against England on October 7, 2022, at Wembley Stadium.
Chelsea already has American forward Catarina Macario and defender Naomi Girma. The club paid a record fee of $1.1 million for Girma in January.
The transfer of Thompson, one of the emerging stars of the NWSL, is expected to exceed one million dollars. Orlando Pride set a record in August by paying $1.5 million for Lizbeth Ovalle.
