Overview
- Chelsea confirmed on Friday that they have agreed a transfer with North Carolina Courage to sign 21-year-old Manaka Matsukubo on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
- Matsukubo was the NWSL Midfielder of the Year in 2025 and has made 58 regular-season appearances for the Courage, scoring 19 goals and providing 10 assists across three seasons.
- She developed at JFA Academy Fukushima and Mynavi Sendai before moving to the Courage on loan in 2023, a deal that became permanent in 2024.
- The signing arrives as Chelsea reshapes its squad after the departures of Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten and Catarina Macario and follows recent moves including Katie McCabe's arrival and Lucy Bronze's contract extension.
- Matsukubo brings youth, international experience with Japan and a proven attacking threat, and her transfer highlights the growing pipeline of talent moving from the WE League and NWSL to the WSL while raising expectations for how she will adapt to Chelsea's system.