Jess Carter explains why she wasn’t happy at Chelsea before move to Gotham FC | OneFootball

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Jess Carter has revealed she wasn’t happy at the end of her time with Chelsea, leading to her move to Gotham FC.

The 28-year-old made 151 appearances for Chelsea between 2018 and 2024, winning five Women’s Super League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups.

In an interview with The Times, she has revealed why she decided to end her successful stint at Chelsea and join Gotham FC in the summer of 2024.

Why did Jess Carter decide to leave Chelsea?

Speaking to The Times, Jess Carter admitted she wasn’t enjoying her time with the Blues by the end of her six-year stay with the club.

She said: “I wasn’t really enjoying myself at Chelsea. I know that might sound crazy, but enjoying football and my experience is more important than winning.

“If I’m not happy at a club, I know I won’t perform, and I’m going to move somewhere I am happy.”

Carter went on to say that Chelsea were “always looking for the next big thing” and “didn’t want to be another number” at Stamford Bridge.

She said: “The way I always felt at Chelsea, and I know it’s the same for some other players, is that you sign and maybe they’re still thinking about the next best thing to bring in.”

Carter added: “I wanted to go where I would be happy, where the club would be willing to work with me, and where I would not feel that I was just going to be another number in and out the door.”

What did Carter say when she joined Gotham FC?

When she joined Gotham FC, Carter hinted at issues during her time at Chelsea, stating: “How you treat people and how the team is treated are my biggest values.

“I think that I can really become a better football player when I’m surrounded by people who treat other people well, and really care for one another as people before footballers. That’s the most important thing.”

Gotham FC won the NWSL title in what was a mixed year for the England centre-back.

Carter enjoyed on-field success with the NWSL title, adding to her triumph with England at Euro 2025.

Off the field, Carter suffered online racist abuse during the Euros. This led to the England defender taking a step back from social media and two arrests were made in connection to the abuse of Carter.

Speaking after Gotham FC’s NWSL success, she said: “I think coming out at the end of it (2025) with two huge wins is what I play football for. Obviously, it makes all the up and down moments worth it.”