Just 22 days after her debut, the Germany international scored her first goal for her new club and went on to bag two more in the same match as she completed her hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

It marked the beginning of a fantastic first season under Emma Hayes, the start of a journey with Chelsea now extended by a further year. After signing a new deal until the summer of 2027, Nusken took a look back on her early moments in blue.

‘I was very happy when I signed,’ she smiles. ‘We spent a long time in contact with Emma, I think maybe it was even one year before I signed. It was a great feeling and the best moment to make the move. I felt comfortable going abroad and to make a new step: a big step.

‘It was even better than I expected to be honest. Yeah, I learned a lot, especially in pre-season. I came a little bit earlier, had a long pre-season with Emma and the team, and it was a really nice year to start with. Everything was so professional.

‘You can see in the picture from when I scored the first goal, I was delighted to be on the scoresheet, to score my first goal, and then it became a hat-trick. I was very happy at the end of the game, but tired as well! I can remember it was a tough game. I think I ran a lot.

‘I was maybe the happiest of my life so far at Chelsea because it was so special.’

Now, two years after her Chelsea debut, Nusken is settled in London. The midfielder describes how she enjoys her days off and how she has built strong relationships with the club’s fans.

‘It's a really nice area to live in,’ she smiles. ‘I have settled in very well. When I have a day off, it's normally a chilled day on the Thames near the water, grabbing a coffee. Especially sitting in the sun when the weather's nice.

‘The team is so nice, and I love being here. That's why I've always wanted to stay here and have said I want to be here for an extra year to win everything we can.

‘The song the fans have for me, ‘Sjoeke Nusken Nusken Nusken’ is very special. Since day one, my first appearance for Chelsea at Kingsmeadow against Roma in a friendly, I still remember when I came on.

‘It was so nice to feel the support from all the fans, because I think they were happy that I'm signed for Chelsea. I'm also very happy to receive their support, and I try to give everything back that they give to me.’

Nusken recounts two more moments from her Chelsea career so far.

Earning her first Women’s Champions League start in a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano in November 2023, and scoring a brace against Arsenal in a 3-1 win over our rivals at Stamford Bridge in March 2024.

Of course, there’s also the silverware. Nusken won the league with Chelsea during her first season at the club, and last season she helped us to an undefeated domestic Treble under Sonia Bompastor.

‘We played against Real Madrid away in my first Champions League game,’ explained Nusken. ‘I can remember when Ann-Katrin Berger said to me: ‘Now you are on the big stage, so enjoy it.’ It was a good game.

‘Then in the one against Arsenal, I scored with my bum! I actually scored twice, and this was a special moment for me as well because my family came and saw the game as well.

‘To win trophies is always special. I think winning my first with Chelsea was the most special. Especially because it was so tough right until the end, and it was a lot of work.’

Looking ahead to what comes next, Nusken discusses her aims with her new contract already signed.

These goals are not a mere box-ticking exercise for the German midfielder, but instead a chance to create shared joy with the players she shares the pitch with.

‘As a team, we want to win the Champions League,’ she concluded. ‘I think this is my personal goal as well because we have such quality in the squad, and we can achieve it; we just need to get the performance right on the pitch.

‘I want to be the best version of myself, pushing forward every single day in the gym and on the training ground, and to enjoy myself on the pitch playing with my friends, my team-mates.’