Wales midfielder Ingle to leave Chelsea
Sophie Ingle made 214 appearances for Chelsea and won 11 trophies
- Published
Wales international and five-time Women's Super League winner Sophie Ingle will leave Chelsea at the end of her contract this summer.
The midfielder, who first represented the Blues for two seasons from 2012 to 2014, returned to Chelsea in 2018 after stints with Bristol Academy and Liverpool.
During her second stint with the club, the 33-year-old former Wales captain won five WSL titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups, and the Community Shield.
She also played in the 2021 Champions League final, which Chelsea lost to Barcelona, and was nominated for the Fifa Puskas Award in 2020.
In total, Ingle made 214 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals.
She has not featured this season after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a pre-season match against Feyenoord in September 2024.
"Chelsea are a special club and since I returned seven years ago, I have felt the support of everyone, both on and off the pitch," said Ingle, who has 139 caps for Wales.
"I'm very proud to have lifted 11 trophies here and am grateful to have done that alongside team-mates who are like family to me."
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor praised Ingle's mentality and expressed her sadness at not being able to work with the midfielder because of her injuries.
"She has been an incredible player for Chelsea. For me to not have the opportunity to coach her in an official game was a little bit sad," said Bompastor, who joined Chelsea in May 2024.
"Sophie works really hard, is a winner, and in pre-season, I was really happy to have her around the team. She gave a lot to this club, has had a lot of success, so a big thank you to her for everything she has achieved."
Head of women's football Paul Green added: "Sophie has been an important part of the success we have had over the past seven years. She's been instrumental in driving standards on and off the pitch and has been a leader in the dressing room.
"She will be missed but we appreciate her desire to explore further playing opportunities once she returns to full fitness."
