Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Belgium goalkeeper Nicky Evrard from OH Leuven.
The 27-year-old has put pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement and will join the Blues from the Belgian league leaders on July 1 2023. Evrard has featured in every game for her club so far this campaign, conceding just seven goals in 20 matches, and became the first goalkeeper to win the Golden Boot - awarded to the best Belgian player - earlier this year.
Evrard has signed a contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2026 and has branded the switch to Kingsmeadow as a "dream" move.
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"It’s really crazy, dreams do come true," she said. "I’m really happy, excited and honoured to play for a big club like Chelsea.
"I follow the women’s games, I watch the competition in England, and it’s always fun to watch the Chelsea games. I hope to bring my performance from the Euros to here, the big goal is to bring something to the team.
"Chelsea want to win trophies, that is also my ambition and I want to win a lot at the club."
Having started her career at lower league level with Racing Strijpen and SK Munkzwalm in her native Belgium, Evrard moved to Cercle Melle - later renamed KAA Gent Ladies - where she remained until 2017. A move to Dutch side FC Twente was then followed by a spell with Sporting Huelva in Spain.
In 2020, Evrard returned to KAA Gent Ladies where she remained until her switch to OH Leuven last summer. At international level, Evrard has won 61 caps for her native Belgium and represented them at EURO 2022.
She was awarded the Player of the Match award for her performance in Belgium's narrow quarter-final defeat to Sweden.
Reflecting on what Evrard can add to her squad, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said: "Nicky will be a great addition to our squad, certainly she showed her quality and her talent in the Euros last summer.
"Coming into a full-time, professional environment will certainly help her take the steps in the next direction. I know she will complement Ann and Zecira and add to our goalkeeping union."
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