Chelsea secure signing of Canadian defender Lawrence from Paris Saint-Germain

Chelsea Women have added strength to their defence by confirming the signing of Canadian international Ashley Lawrence.

Set to move from Paris Saint-Germain on 1 July 2023, Lawrence has signed a three-year contract with the London-based club.

The 28-year-old defender makes the move to England following six successful years in the French Division 1 Feminine with Paris Saint-Germain.

Her arrival in London coincides with her selection to represent Canada at her third World Cup, to be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Reacting to the news, Lawrence said, ‘I’m really excited and grateful to be joining such a top club in England and in Europe. There are a lot of emotions, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone, the rest of the players and staff, and to next season.’

Chelsea Manager Emma Hayes expressed her admiration for the player, saying, ‘Ashley has established herself as one of the best full-backs in the women’s game for both club and country. Her ability to get forward, her progressive play into the final third is a standout strength and she can play on both the left and right side. We’re really looking forward to having her with us.’

General Manager Paul Green said, ‘We’ve tracked Ashley over a number of years and we are thrilled to bring her into the club. Ashley is one of the best attacking full-backs in the world and will add another dimension to our play.’

Lawrence, who can play on either side of the defence, turned professional in 2017, joining PSG after training as a midfielder in her youth and playing college football for West Virginia University.

She has played 180 matches for PSG, helping the team win one league title and two French Cups.

On the international stage, Lawrence has made over a hundred appearances for Canada, winning the Canada Soccer’s Female Player of the Year award in 2019 and earning medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.

The move to Chelsea Women will see Lawrence team up with her Canadian teammates Jessie Fleming and Kadeisha Buchanan for the 2023/24 campaign.