Chelsea's Ellie Carpenter has been recognised for an outstanding 12 months after her fellow Australian professionals voted her PFA Women's Footballer of the Year for 2025/26.
The award caps a memorable year for the Australian international, who made a big impact in her first season with the Blues, lifting the League Cup. She also played a key role for the Matildas as they reached the final of the AFC Women's Asian Cup on home soil.
'I'm very honoured to receive this award,' Ellie said. 'It's always special when you get voted by your peers and your team-mates. It's a very special award to win, and I'm very honoured and proud of my year.'
The 26-year-old made 29 appearances for Chelsea in all competitions during the 2025/26 campaign, including 27 starts, scoring three goals and providing three assists. Her impressive club campaign was complemented by a memorable year with Australia, where she won a silver medal at the Asian Cup in March.Â
The tournament also marked a milestone in her international career as she earned her 100th cap in the semi-final win over China, becoming a centurion at the age of 25.
For Carpenter, though, the significance of the PFA honour comes from the fact it is recognition from those she shares the pitch with.
'When you're part of a team, it's nice that they think that you're doing well and helping the team succeed and win games,' she said. 'It feels really special to be thought about like that by your team-mates and peers, for club and country. So yeah, I'm very proud and honoured.'
The accolade also reflects Carpenter's impressive adaptation after moving to London and joining Chelsea, with the defender acknowledging the challenge of adjusting to a new league while preparing for a major international tournament.
'During the last 12 months, I moved to London here at Chelsea,' she continued.
'We had the Asian Cup for Australia. So, two big things that happened last season. It was about adapting to a new league here and also a major tournament during a season. It was quite tricky to navigate at times.
'But I'm proud of how I adapted and also learned and grew as well in the last year and with the season. So yeah, I'm also proud of my performances.'
There were plenty of personal milestones along the way, including her first appearance for the Blues and her first goal for the club.
'One highlight is making my debut for Chelsea,' Carpenter reflected. 'It was a great debut season for me and scoring my first goal for the club as well. Making it to the Asian Cup final was a great achievement for us as a team. We fell short in the end, but we captured the nation again and had a great, successful tournament at home in Australia.'
Carpenter has carried that form into the new campaign, starting every game so far as we remain unbeaten in both the Women's Super League and Champions League. With another big season ahead at club level and the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil on the horizon, the Australian is excited about what comes next.
'I'm looking forward to this season with Chelsea, to building on last season personally and also as a team,' she said. 'Winning is an objective of ours, and we're just taking it game by game and hopefully finishing better than last season.
'And also with my country, we have a huge preparation before the World Cup in Brazil. So I'm focusing on being the best individual I can be for the team, for Australia, building on those relationships with my country and preparing for the World Cup.'
Congratulations, Ellie!