Chelsea sign Spanish full-back Alejandra Bernabe from Atletico Madrid

Chelsea has announced the signing of the Spanish defender, Alejandra Bernabe, from Atletico Madrid.

The 21-year-old will spend the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Real Sociedad after committing to a three-year contract with the Blues.

Bernabe, a promising full-back with a strong left foot, had previously spent a season on loan at Sociedad from parent club Atletico.

She will return to her native Spain to continue her development with the same team next season.

Upon signing, Bernabe expressed her excitement about joining the ranks at Stamford Bridge.

"I am so happy to be here and I’m grateful for the opportunity that Chelsea have given to me. I’m so excited because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world," she said.

Chelsea's manager, Emma Hayes, expressed her enthusiasm about Bernabe's potential.

"Alejandra has a fantastic left foot and it’s very difficult to find players of her ability who can progress the ball up the pitch on the dribble. We know she can become a top left-sided player in the future and we’re excited to watch her develop and grow."

General manager Paul Green also added praise for the young defender, saying, "We believe Alejandra has the potential to be one of the best attacking full-backs in the world. Her attacking play will be a real asset for the team in the future. We look forward to seeing her gain more experience with Real Sociedad next season before welcoming her back into the Chelsea family."

Bernabe has already made significant strides in her career, playing 76 senior games and winning the Spanish Super Cup in 2021 with Atletico.

She also has European experience, having featured in the UEFA Women's Champions League for both Atletico and Sociedad.

Internationally, she was part of the Spain U17 squad that won the 2018 European Championships and made her senior debut for Spain against Argentina in November.