Chelsea have signed Canadian defender, Kadeisha Buchanan on a three-year contract from Lyon on a free transfer.
Buchanan grew up in Toronto, Canada and enjoyed brief spells at Toronto Lady Lynx and Ottawa Fury Women in USL W-League until the league folded in 2015 whilst she was studying at West Virginia University where she played for their West Virginia Mountaineers team.
Once she completed her studies, Buchanan signed for Lyon in 2017 where she has gone on to score six goals in 78 appearances across five-and-a-half seasons, whilst she also collected 13 trophies in total including five Division 1 Feminine and UEFA Women’s Champions League titles apiece.
Buchanan however has opted not to renew her contract and will officially join Chelsea on 1 July on a three-year contract until June 2025 upon expiry of her contract at Lyon, which concludes later this month on 30 June.
Speaking about her decision to join Chelsea, Buchanan commented: “I am coming to Chelsea with the same ambition I always had – win trophies and become the best in the world.
“The club has everything in order for us to compete in every competition and it’s time to bring a Champions League trophy to London.”
On what benefits she hopes to bring to the team over the next three seasons, the 26 year-old defender said: “I’m hoping to bring my experience to the team and continue on the successful pathway that the club has been on for the past seasons.
“I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and the coaching staff on this journey.”
Chelsea Women manager, Emma Hayes has welcomed Buchanan’s decision to sign for the Blues as she added: “Kadeisha is a serial winner at the top of her game and I have no doubt we are signing a world-class player who has proven herself on the world stage.
“She is going to bring a quality to our group and with her brilliant personality and character, we think she will be really liked within the dressing room. We look forward to welcoming Kadeisha this summer.”
Buchanan will join Chelsea for pre-season which includes a trip to United States of America for 2022 Women’s International Champions Cup, where Hayes’ Blues will play Buchanan’s soon-to-be former team – Lyon plus Portland Thorns and C.F. Monterrey.
Buchanan has also scored four goals in 116 appearances for Canada across all competitions after rising through their youth ranks, plus was part of Canada’s gold-medal winning squad at 2021 Summer Olympics.
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