Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Paris Saint-Germain and Canada defender Ashley Lawrence on a three-year deal running until the summer of 2026.
The 28-year-old joins the Blues after six years with PSG, making 180 appearances for the French club. At international level, she has over 100 caps for Canada and played a key role in their Tokyo 2020 gold medal winning campaign.
She will represent Canada at this summer's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand alongside new club teammates Jessie Fleming and Kadeisha Buchanan. Following the tournament, she will join up with her new team ahead of the 2023/24 season in which Chelsea will hope to retain their Women's Super League title.
She told the club website: "I’m really excited and grateful to be joining such a top club in England and in Europe. There are a lot of emotions, excitement and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, the rest of the players and staff and to next season."
Manager Emma Hayes added: "Ashley has established herself as one of the best full backs in the women’s game for both club and country. Her ability to get forward, her progressive play into the final third is a standout strength and she can play on both the left and right side. We’re really looking forward to having her with us."
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Lawrence becomes Chelsea's fifth signing of the summer, joining Nicky Evrard, Sjoeke Nusken, Catarina Macario and Alejandra Bernabe through the door. So far, there has been only two key departures with Magdalena Eriksson and forward Pernille Harder leaving the club for Bayern Munich.
