Ellie Carpenter: New Chelsea Star Set to Become League Rivals with Wife Van De Donk
- Chelsea's new player Ellie Carpenter is set to become league rivals with her new wife after moving to England
- Carpenter became the latest Chelsea signing this summer after spending five years in France with OL Lyonnes
- The Australian fullback recently got married to her former teammate, who has since moved to Chelsea's rivals in the Women's Super League
Chelsea Women have completed the signing of Ellie Carpenter from OL Lyonnes.
Source: UGC
Carpenter moved to West London, with Ashley Lawrence moving the other way a day earlier.
How long is Ellie Carpenter's deal?
The Australian fullback has put pen to paper on a four-year deal after a glorious five-year spell in France.
She will be reunited with her former manager, Sonia Bompastor, who coached her at Lyon before moving to Chelsea.
"I'm very proud to join such a big club, one of the biggest in women's football. Chelsea have enjoyed so much success in England, and I'm delighted to now be a part of it," she told the club's website.
Ellie Carpenter's achievements
At 25 years old, Chelsea have undoubtedly got a top fullback who has already achieved a lot in her career.
She won the W-League championship with Melbourne City before moving to Lyon. In France, she won the UEFA Women's Champions League twice under Bompastor, four Première Ligue among many other domestic titles.
Carpenter is expected to rival experienced England international Lucy Bronze for the right-back position.
Chelsea, who won the domestic treble, are still chasing a maiden Champions League trophy, something their right-back pairing know a thing or two about winning.
Who is Ellie Carpenter's wife?
But away from what she brings on the field, the other interesting dynamic fans will look forward to is the fact that Carpenter will come up against her wife in the Women's Super League.
Carpenter is married to Dutch footballer Daniëlle van de Donk, who was her teammate at Lyon.
When did Ellie Carpenter get married?
Coincidentally, the two only got married this summer in a beautiful ceremony in Château Hermitage de Combas, a four-hour drive from Lyon.
As Vogue Australia reports, the two met in 2021 when van de Donk joined Lyon from Arsenal. In 2023, it was Carpenter who proposed to the 33-year-old midfielder in the Isles of the Maldives.
"It was honestly a dream. Daniëlle thought we were just going snorkelling, so she had no idea what was coming. When we arrived, I had it all set up with rose petals and a picnic. It was just the two of us, surrounded by the ocean, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The look on her face when she realised what was happening, I’ll never forget it"
Source: Instagram
Ellie Carpenter to become rivals with wife
However, Carpenter is now set to become rivals with van de Donk after moving to England.
Van de Donk also left Lyon earlier this summer and moved to newly promoted London City Lionesses.
Both clubs are owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, who is highly ambitious.
"It's just such a nice environment to be in, the club really appeals to me, it reminds me of a little family, and I want to be a part of it. The project that London City have is different but in a good way. London City have to battle for everything, and that's my style," said the former Arsenal midfielder as captured by BBC Sports.
London City Lionesses will become the first independently backed club, not owned by a corresponding men's team, to compete in the WSL.
Carpenter's Chelsea have won the last six WSL titles, doing it unbeaten last season in Bompastor's first season in charge.
How much Chelsea Women got after winning WSL
In a related report, Chelsea Women were given prize money for winning the Women's Super League.
Bompastor masterminded an unbeaten season, winning the league with two games to go after beating Manchester United on April 30.
The Blues, who are partly owned by the husband of tennis great Alexis Ohanian, completed the domestic treble by beating Manchester City in the Subway Cup and United in the FA Cup.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
