Chelsea already 'nearly done' with summer transfer plans after signing Sjoeke Nusken
By Emily Keogh
Emma Hayes revealed that Chelsea are already close to being done with their summer transfer plans after announcing the signing of Sjoeke Nusken.
The Blues have welcomed the 22-year-old on a contract until 2025, joining the London club from Eintracht Frankfurt. The German youngster caught the eye of the Chelsea boss back in 2020, with Hayes gushing about the midfielder's talent and versatility.
"I think we've been tracking Sjoeke for about three years," Hayes revealed. We tried to bring her in sooner, but the time wasn't right for her particularly.
"She's the profile we've been looking for, I think she's wonderfully gifted."
Speaking on the versatility of the youngster, the 2023 FA Cup-winning manager said: "She's got pretty much everything in the middle of the pitch. She can intercept like a classic number six, she can also play as the eight. She can play as a centre-back, but we haven't brought her in for that."
Reacting to penning her new deal with Chelsea, Nusken revealed how she wanted to play in the WSL and her hopes for signing with the club until 2026.
"I’m very excited and happy to be at Chelsea and I’m looking forward to next season," the former Frankfurt player said.
"It’s a big club with such good players. I hope to improve my football skills. I’m very excited to meet my new team mates, and I can learn a lot from them."
Speaking to the media later, Hayes also revealed that Chelsea's plans for introducing new talent in the summer window are nearly finished. Nusken is the second summer signing that Hayes has introduced after Belgian goalkeeper Nicky Evrard's deal was announced earlier in the year.
"We're nearly done," Hayes said. "Recruitment never ends, but I'd say we've done a lot of our business already."
Whilst Chelsea appear to have a stream of incoming talent, rumours circulated last week about the possible exit of star striker Pernille Harder and skipper Magdalena Erikson after it was reported that the pair might be off to Bayern Munich after the 2023 Women's World Cup this summer.
"When it's speculative, and it's this point in the season, it's great," Hayes said, speaking on the recent whisperings.
"They're great people, they're great professionals and hopefully, who have worked together long enough to know that none of us gets influenced by the things that are happening on the outside, we just carry on business as usual."