After nearly two years away from football, Sam Kerr is finally back doing what she loves most—scoring goals. The Chelsea and Australian superstar made her long-awaited return during Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, coming off the bench in the 75th minute to net her side’s final goal in stoppage time.
The strike marked her 100th goal for the club, a milestone achieved in just 129 appearances, making her the fastest Chelsea player—male or female—to reach that landmark.
Kerr’s journey back to the pitch has been anything but easy. She suffered a devastating ACL rupture during Chelsea’s winter training camp in Morocco in January 2024, just months after battling a calf injury at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. As Chelsea rebuilt their attack with the signing of Mayra Ramírez, Kerr faced months of intense rehabilitation and recovery. Yet, her time away from football wasn’t just defined by injury—it also brought personal and legal challenges.
In early 2024, Kerr was charged with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer, stemming from an incident in Twickenham the previous year. During her trial in February 2025, Kerr admitted to using harsh language in a heated exchange but denied any racial intent or intent to harass. After a four-hour jury deliberation, she was found not guilty. Following the verdict, she expressed relief, acknowledging the difficulty of the experience while reaffirming her focus on returning to football.
Amid all the turbulence came a moment of joy—motherhood. Kerr and her partner, American footballer Kristie Mewis, announced in late 2024 that they were expecting their first child. Despite facing online backlash, they welcomed their son, Jagger Mewis-Kerr, in May 2025.
By August, Kerr was back training with Chelsea, determined to regain her form. Her comeback goal against Aston Villa symbolized not just a return to competition but also triumph over adversity. With her confidence restored and her first goal behind her, Sam Kerr’s new chapter promises to be every bit as extraordinary as the one before.
