Sophie Ingle has signed a new two-and-a-half year contract to stay at Chelsea Women until June 2023.
Ingle previously played for Chelsea between 2012-13 before rejoining in 2018 and has now made over 100 appearances for the Blues.
Speaking on her decision to extend her stay at Kingsmeadow, Ingle said: “It was nice that the club wanted to keep me on for another two years.”
Ingle is therefore ‘really excited’ to secure her future for another two seasons and is ‘looking forward’ to challenging for more trophies, with Chelsea currently top of the Women’s Super League (WSL).
Reflecting on the club’s progress, Ingle spoke of how the team were ‘semi-professional’ during her first spell, in which they lost the 2012 Women’s FA Cup Final on penalties to Birmingham City under Matt Beard before Emma Hayes arrived.
During that period, Chelsea Women didn’t have the access to facilities that they now have with Ingle saying: “I used to drive here two, three times a week to train here in the evenings and then come up on the weekend to play.
“We didn’t have the facilities we have now. Since Emma has come in she has been pushing year after year to progress this football club and this women’s team.”
Ingle also praised Hayes for her role in the team’s development, saying: “She’s done that with the signings she’s made, and she’s been pushing for things off the pitch as well as on the pitch.”
Chelsea Women’s General Manager, Paul Green meanwhile is delighted to retain Ingle, saying: “She has shown high levels of quality and consistency since returning to the club, playing a key part in the team’s recent successes.”
Green also spoke of how Ingle’s quality makes her a key player, as he said: “Sophie’s experience and tactical intelligence makes her an important player, capable of playing in a couple of different roles within the team.”
Since returning to the Blues in 2018, Ingle helped Chelsea achieve the 2019-20 League Cup and WSL titles plus 2020 Women’s Community Shield.
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