Chelsea sign Manaka Matsukubo from North Carolina Courage | OneFootball

Chelsea have announced the signing of Japan international Manaka Matsukubo from NWSL side North Carolina Courage.

The 21-year-old, who was named NWSL midfielder of the year after scoring 11 goals and assisting a further four in the 2025 campaign, joins the Blues on a five-year-deal. She becomes the west Londoners’ second signing of this transfer window, after completing a deal for former Arsenal defender Katie McCabe.

The Japanese international joins Sonia Bompastor’s side after 19 goals in 60 appearances for the Courage, ending a three year spell in America, having moved from Japanese side Mynavi Sendai in August 2023.

In a statement, Matsukubo said: “I’m so excited to be joining Chelsea, a club with a lot of history. As a small child, I followed Chelsea because it is a club everyone in the world knows about.

“The club has a strong history of winning trophies and has done so well at the top of the game, so I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and I want to help continue this club’s tradition of winning trophies for years to come.”

Matsukubo made her senior international football debut in February 2025, helping Japan win the SheBelieves Cup, before winning the Asian Cup in March after defeating hosts Australia. She has now accumulated 19 caps, scoring twice.