Sam Kerr suffers ACL injury during Chelsea training camp

Chelsea have confirmed striker Sam Kerr has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury during their training camp in Morocco.

Australia international Kerr has scored four goals and added three assists in eight Women's Super League matches this season but is now expected to miss the rest of the campaign.

Kerr has netted 99 goals in 128 matches for Chelsea since signing for the Londoners in 2019.

A statement from Chelsea reads: "Chelsea Football Club can confirm striker Sam Kerr has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during our warm weather training camp in Morocco.

"Sam will be assessed by a specialist in the coming days and then begin her rehabilitation with the club's medical team.

"Everyone at Chelsea would like to wish Sam the very best for her recovery."

The injury is a major blow to the Blues' WSL title hopes, with Kerr picking up the club's Women's Player of the Season award in the past two seasons. She played a large role in Chelsea winning three league titles in a row and helped them reach the Women's Champions League final for the first time in 2021.

Kerr is also a two-time WSL Golden Boot winner for goal-laden campaigns in 2020/21 and 2021/22, but her absence will leave manager Emma Hayes reliant on other forward options to deliver.

Lauren James is Chelsea's current league top scorer with seven strikes, while Agnes Beever-Jones has contributed five in just 167 minutes as a squad player.

Kerr is the latest star in the women's game to suffer a significant ACL injury. Arsenal trio Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead along with Scotland international Caroline Weir are among those to have all been sidelined over the past year or so.

Chelsea are three points clear of Manchester City at the top of the WSL table as the league pauses for a winter break. The Blues return to action without Kerr in the FA Cup next Sunday against West Ham.

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