Alyssa Thompson lands at Chelsea

Full Time: A show about women's soccer

The Athletic

News, Soccer, Sports News, Sports

4.8 • 756 Ratings

🗓️ 5 September 2025

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It is another week of record transfer fees and dramatic moves between the NWSL and the WSL. On Thursday, Angel City and U.S. women's national team forward Alyssa Thompson completed a shock move to Chelsea on the final day of the European women's transfer window. But how did the deal go down and what does it all mean?

On this week's Full Time Focus, The Athletic's Charlotte Harpur and Melanie Anzidei join host Jillian Sakovits to break down how Chelsea made the sudden move for the American, what we know about the transfer fee, where it leaves Angel City midseason, and whether NWSL fans be concerned about other high-profile star heading abroad.

PLUS: Get focused with Full Time's 1-2-3 of what to watch this weekend from the big WSL kick-off in West London, to a new home for the Chicago Stars and a playoff heat check for New Jersey/New York and Los Angeles.

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Referenced on the show:

Chelsea reach verbal agreement to sign Alyssa Thompson from Angel City

Sam Kerr to return to Chelsea squad for Women’s Super League opener

Women’s Super League top questions: Will Chelsea be beaten? Are London City a threat?

WSL season preview: Can anyone catch Chelsea?

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HOST: Jillian Sakovits

GUESTS: Charlotte Harpur and Melanie Anzidei

PRODUCER: Theo Lloyd-Hughes

VIDEO PRODUCER: Lia Griffin

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Emily Olsen

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Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

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Transcript

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1:00.0	What does it mean, Melanie, for Thompson now to be going to Chelsea? It's so interesting because depending on who you ask and what perspective you're taking,
1:05.0	you'll get a different answer.
1:07.0	So seeing someone as young and with so much potential as Alyssa Thompson going and getting that international experience, it feels like a no-brainer.
1:20.7	Hello and welcome to Friday's full-time focus. It is presented by Amazon Prime. I'm your host, Jillian Sackavids. We have a big one for you today as we gave you a comprehensive breakdown of Alyssa Thompson's shocking move from Angel City FC to Chelsea on Thursday. The WSL deadline transfer for the U.S. Women's National team star is reported by the athletic to be an initial
1:44.8	fee of around $1.3 million U.S. dollars making it a top five transfer all time. We're going to catch up
1:51.8	with the athletic Charlotte Harper, who was working tirelessly to help break down that story alongside
1:57.0	David Ornstein and Megan Ferenga. And then Melanie Anzi-Day will jump on the podcast to provide a U.S. perspective
2:03.6	and what Thompson's move means for the NWSL and the U.S. women's national team.
2:08.4	There's a lot to get into, so let's get into it.
2:15.5	Time now to welcome in the athletics.
2:18.2	Charlotte Harper, who I hear is on podcast appearance number three of the day.
2:23.8	Yeah, but, you know, I'm giving all my time and energy.
2:27.0	Save the best to last.
2:28.6	There you go. There you go.
2:30.0	Charlotte, it is official now after one week of rumors swirling.
	...

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