Kadeisha Buchanan joins Chelsea FC

Olympic champion Kadeisha Buchanan has joined Chelsea FC in England’s FA Women’s Super League ahead of the 2022-23 season. Buchanan joined the club after spending five-and-a-half years in France with FCF Olympique Lyonnais where she won the UEFA Women’s Champions League five times. She signed a three-year deal and will wear number 26 making herself the first player to wear the famous number shirt for Chelsea since Blues legend John Terry.

“Kadeisha is a serial winner at the top of her game and I have no doubt we are signing a world-class player who has proven herself on the world stage,” said Emma Hayes, Chelsea FC Manager.  “She is going to bring a quality to our group and with her brilliant personality and character, we think she will be really liked within the dressing room. We look forward to welcoming Kadeisha this summer.”

Since joining Lyon in 2017, Buchanan made 130 club appearances and scored nine goals. She won the UEFA Champions League title in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22. She featured in the FIFPro Women’s World XI. At the domestic level, she won the Championnat de France five times (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2021-22) and the Coupe de France three times (2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20). At the international “A” level, she has made 118 appearances for Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team. She has already been named Canada Soccer’s Player of the Year three times (2015, 2017, 2022).

“I am coming to Chelsea with the same ambition I always had – win trophies and become the best in the world. The club has everything in order for us to compete in every competition and it’s time to bring a Champions League trophy to London,” said Buchanan. “I’m hoping to bring my experience to the team and continue on the successful pathway that the club has been on for the past seasons. I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and the coaching staff on this journey.”