Chelsea hoping to sign Angel City’s 20-year-old USA winger Alyssa Thompson | OneFootball

Chelsea have made a move for the Angel City winger Alyssa Thompson, with the Women’s Super League club hoping to reach a deal before the transfer window closes next Thursday.

The WSL champions are understood to have been aiming to add a world-class winger to their ranks and the USA international is widely regarded as one of the best young talents in the game. The 20-year-old has eight goal involvements in her 16 NWSL appearances so far this season.

Any move for Thompson, who was the first overall pick in the 2023 NWSL draft when she was 18, would command one of the largest transfer deals in women’s football. No fee has yet been agreed, according to sources, but Chelsea are understood to be ready to sign the California-born youngster, who has already been capped 22 times, having made her USA debut in October 2022 against England at Wembley aged 17.

Chelsea’s campaign begins on 5 September, on the opening night of the new WSL season against Manchester City.

Chelsea, who won a domestic treble of major trophies during Sonia Bompastor’s first campaign in charge, have had a quiet transfer window so far, signing the Australia defender Ellie Carpenter for an undisclosed fee from Lyon. They have also completed moves for the goalkeepers Livia Peng and Becky Spencer, as well as the forward Mara Alber.

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