Chelsea Women and Manaka Matsukubo
Friday
Chelsea have signed Japan midfielder Manaka Matsukubo from North Carolina Courage on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old joins after scoring 19 goals, adding 10 assists and being named NWSL midfielder of the year in 2025.
Matsukubo said Chelsea’s winning history made the move impossible to reject. Her arrival gives the WSL champions another young international midfielder as they strengthen again after a dominant domestic period and continued investment in women’s football.