Chelsea sign Japanese midfielder Matsukubo


Chelsea have announced the signing of Japanese international Manaka Matsukubo, who has signed a five-year contract with the club. The 21-year-old athlete comes from the North Carolina Courage, a team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), in the United States. Matsukubo had an impressive season, scoring 19 goals and providing 10 assists in 58 matches, earning recognition as the 2025 NWSL Midfielder of the Year. "I'm very excited to be joining Chelsea, a club with a lot of history," said Matsukubo. "The club has a strong tradition of winning trophies and has done very well at the top of the game, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. I want to help continue the club's tradition of achievement for many years to come."