The fight to be Chelsea's first-choice keeper looks set to intensify next season after the club announced the signing of Belgian No.1 goalkeeper Nicky Evrard.
The Blues have already begun their summer shopping by confirming an agreement had been reached with Evrard, as Emma Hayes wastes no time in improving her squad. Evrard, 27, is highly-rated across Europe and currently plies her trade for OH Leuven, the Belgium Women's Super League leaders.
She will join Chelsea, who were beaten by Arsenal in Sunday's League Cup final, on July 1 ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, and will compete to be Hayes' first-choice alongside current keepers Zecira Musovic and Ann Katrin-Berger.
On signing for Chelsea, Evrard said: "It’s really crazy, dreams do come true. 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."
Evrard has signed a contract with the WSL holders until the summer of 2026. This season Evrard has only conceded seven goals in 20 games. The left-footer is known for her strong passing game, reflexes, and penalty-saving ability and particularly impressed for Belgium at Euro 2022 last summer.
"Nicky will be a great addition to our squad," said Chelsea manager Hayes. "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 (Katrin-Berger) and Zecira (Musovic) and add to our goalkeeping union."
Until 2017, Evrard spent the entirety of her career in Belgium. But then she left Gent to move to the Netherlands with FC Twente, which was followed by a spell with Sporting Huelva in Spain. In 2020, Evrard returned home to Belgium with Gent where she remained until moving to OH Leuven in July 2022.
