Chelsea sign Japan midfielder Matsukubo

Manaka Matsukubo has been capped 14 times by Japan [Getty Images] Chelsea have signed Japan international Manaka Matsukubo on a five-year contract. The 21-year-old midfielder has joined the club from National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) side North Carolina Courage in the United States. Matsukubo scored 19 goals and provided 10 assists in 58 matches for North Carolina and was named NWSL midfielder of the year in 2025. "I'm so excited to be joining Chelsea, a club with a lot of history," she said. "The club has a strong history of winning trophies and has done so well at the top of the game, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity. "I want to help continue this club's tradition of winning trophies for years to come." [BBC] Find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed Get the latest WSL news on our dedicated page