Sam Kerr made a dream comeback for Chelsea after 637 days on the sidelines, scoring her 100th goal for the club just 13 minutes into her return during a 3-1 WSL victory over Aston Villa. The Australian striker had not featured since December 2023 following a serious ACL injury.
Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton praised her teammate’s impact, saying it felt like “an extra signing” for the squad. Kerr’s poacher’s finish, smashed past Villa’s Ellie Roebuck, capped off what manager Sonia Bompastor called a “perfect day,” with the coach hailing the forward as “an idol” for the club.
Kerr’s absence spanned Bompastor’s entire debut season, in which Chelsea swept the domestic Treble. Before her injury, the 32-year-old was central to three consecutive league titles under former boss Emma Hayes. Despite Chelsea’s investment in attacking talent like Mayra Ramirez and record signing Alyssa Thompson, it was Kerr who stole the spotlight on Sunday.
Reflecting on her milestone strike, Kerr admitted the achievement was beyond her imagination when she first joined the Blues. “To score 100 goals for such a massive club is something I’ll carry forever,” she said. With 59 goals in 76 WSL games, she boasts one of the league’s best scoring records, and teammates and pundits alike hope her return sparks another dominant run for Chelsea.
