Chelsea Women have announced that striker Sam Kerr has signed a contract extension with the club until the end of the 2025-26 season, mere moments after it was suggested that she would be heading for the exit door.
The Blues left supporters in bewilderment on Thursday morning, sharing a sit-down video with the Australia striker, who appeared to be emotionally announcing her exit from Stamford Bridge.
Kerr paid tribute to her time at the club and the fans, whom she implored to welcome head coach Sonia Bompastor with "open arms" before ending her monologue with a simple "thank you so much".
The striker's previous contract was due to expire at the end of the month, but only 20 minutes after she had ostensibly bid farewell to the Blues, the 30-year-old was revealed to have put pen to paper on a new deal in West London, taking her up to the end of the 2025-26 season.
A message from @SamKerr1... 💙 pic.twitter.com/14c1BEzzOZ
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) June 13, 2024
"It's really exciting and a very proud moment for me. Having the opportunity to stay at a club like Chelsea means a lot to me. I'm really excited to continue to push and to try to win trophies," Kerr told the official Chelsea website after pranking supporters.
Not long after Chelsea released the video of Kerr's apparent exit announcement, the Blues shared a new clip of the Australian on the Stamford Bridge pitch, reacting to the previous footage on her phone.
"Sam is one of the world's best strikers"
Kerr reacted to her monologue with "Guys, what's all this? I'm not leaving!" before a short montage and the message "Kerr 2026" at the end of the clip, allowing Blues fans to breathe easy again.
General manager Paul Green hailed the former Perth Glory attacker as one of the best in the world in her position after her terms were extended, adding: "We are delighted that Sam has extended her deal with the club.
She's not going anywhere! 😏
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) June 13, 2024
Sam Kerr has signed a new contract with the club until 2026! ✍️ pic.twitter.com/gqTZnefL2A
"Sam is a leader and one of the world's best strikers and goalscorers. She has been very important to our success, and we look forward to welcoming her back from injury next season."
Kerr's new terms could prolong her stay at Stamford Bridge to a full seven years, and she has established a reputation as one of the globe's leading centre-forwards since touching down in West London.
The Australia international has found the back of the net 99 times in 128 matches for the Blues and has won 11 major honours, including five straight Women's Super League titles and three consecutive FA Cups.
Among her host of individual accolades, Kerr is a two-time Women's Super League Golden Boot winner and has been named the Football Writer's Association Women's Footballer of the Year on two occasions, but she was restricted to just 12 appearances last term due to an ACL injury.
