Chelsea have announced the contract extension of Aniek Nouwen, with the centre-half set to spend the remainder of the 2022/23 season on loan with AC Milan.
The extension sees the 23-year-old remain with the reigning league champions until the summer of 2025. Nouwen joined the Blues from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2021, putting pen-to-paper on a three-year contract.
And Nouwen has been touted as “one of the best young defenders in the world” by Chelsea general manager Paul Green, with her loan spell at AC Milan, who sit fifth in Serie A but just six points shy of runners-up Juventus, viewed as a prime opportunity for the Dutch youngster to hone her craft with consistent senior football.
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“[Nouwen] needs to keep developing and we see this as a great opportunity for her,” Green told the club website. “Emma [Hayes] and I are looking forward to seeing her add even more experience to her game at AC Milan over the upcoming months.”
Nouwen made her professional debut with PSV in 2016, boasting 15 goals in 100 appearances. Before departing for west London, Nouwen helped her side finish runner-up in the Eredvisie.
Nouwen comprised the double-winning squad last season. Her first start for the club arrived in her debut season in October 2021. She registered goals in victories over Leicester in both the FA Cup and WSL later in the campaign.
After representing her country across various age groups, Nouwen stepped up to the Netherlands senior setup in 2019. Her goal in Netherland's victory over Estonia helped to secure their spot at the 2022 European Championships, where she represented her country and was part of the squad at the Olympics the year prior.
Current leaders Chelsea continue their bid for a fourth consecutive WSL title on Sunday with a mid-day fixture against ninth-placed Liverpool.
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