The forward had previously split her playing time between Perth Glory in the Australian W-League from October to April and Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League from April to September

Kerr joined Chelsea off the back of being named the NWSL’s MVP after scoring a record 19 goals in 23 games to secure a third-consecutive golden boot.

So she arrived with a big reputation and Kerr set some big targets during her first interview with the club back in 2019. But did she achieve them?

1) ‘I’ve watched the Premier League since I was a kid and I think Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world. Once I had my mind set on Europe, it was an easy decision to choose Chelsea as a club.

‘Everyone in women’s football has been watching the growth in England, it’s really exciting to see, and it has been great for the women's game. It’s one of the things that drew me here to England, to see how much investment and how much growth there’s been.

‘The playing style is a lot different to the US, there’s going to be a lot more football thinking than just running, and after my first few games, I’ll be able to decide what the quality of the league is. Having watched a few games, I think it’s definitely going to be up there with the best leagues in the world very soon, if not now.’

Achieved? Certainly

Sam's prediction the Women's Super League would become one of the best leagues in the world has certainly come true. The WSL is seen as one of the most competitive leagues in the world, with many now heralding it as the best.

2) ‘There’s a lot of speed about my game. I’ve been working on my goalscoring and finishing in recent years. It’s for the fans to decide, but I think I’m an athletic, speedy forward.

‘I didn’t want to step into a team that didn’t need me or didn’t value what I could bring to the team. I feel like as a player, I can bring a lot to Chelsea.’

Achieved? You better believe it!

Although absent for 634 days through a serious injury sustained in December 2023, Kerr has already reached an incredible tally of 103 total goals in 138 games for Chelsea. Breaking the long-awaited 100-goal mark during her very first substitute appearance in a 3-1 win away at Aston Villa, Kerr showed she had retained her deadly instincts after such a gruelling lay-off and remains one of the best goalscorers on the planet!

3) ‘Hopefully, players see me in the English league and want to try it. We can make it one of the best leagues in the world, competing even with the Champions League.'

Has it happened? It certainly has!

Kerr wanted her presence in the WSL to attract more high-profile players to the league and that has definitely happened. Not only ours but the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have squads which are the envy of much of Europe.

And fans who attend Kingsmeadow and Stamford Bridge have the chance to watch some of the best players in the world. Global stars like Lucy Bronze and Keira Walsh have returned to these shores from spells with Barcelona, while talented imports such as Ellie Carpenter, Naomi Girma, Catarina Macario and Mayra Ramirez are just some of the names Blues fans get to see every week!

4) 'I hope after what I have achieved in the US, fans will follow my next move and hopefully fall in love with the club and have interest in the game in England. I'm sure the fans from Chicago and the US will support me with whatever I do.'

Has it happened? O yes!

Kerr's performances at Chelsea elevated her to an even higher status in the game, with the striker becoming one of the most popular and most followed women's footballers in the world.

Her trajectory has coincided with ours, with Chelsea Women now one of the most popular clubs on the planet!

5) ‘I didn't come here just to be here. I came here to lift trophies and win silverware with the club, and there’s no denying that I’ve come here to score goals. Hopefully, I can keep my goalscoring record up and help the team lift those trophies and be a big part of it.’

Achieved? Emphatically!

During Sam's time with us, we have lifted six league titles, four Women’s FA Cup trophies and three Women’s League Cups.

Her list of individual accolades is equally impressive. Kerr won the WSL Golden Boot in 2021 and 2022 and was also awarded Player of the Season and Goal of the Season in 2022. The striker was named as the PFA Player's Player of the Year in 2022 and our own Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Verdict? When it comes to Sam Kerr's first interview as a blue, it is fair to say she has certainly delivered on every one of her objectives and then some. And excitingly for Chelsea fans, there is still much more to come!