Chelsea Ladies are looking to emulate their male counterparts by bringing in big-name internationals.

Currently sitting second from the bottom of the Women’s Premiership and with little to no hope of any Cup glory, Chelsea have confirmed they are applying for international clearance for U.S. World Cup winner Tiffeny Milbrett and star Canadian striker Christine Sinclair, once described as ‘the Michael Owen of women’s football’ – luckily for Chelsea, based on her prolific goal-scoring from a young age, not her injury-proneness or poor career choices.



Chelsea FC have previously had a reputation for indifference to their women’s side, bordering on negligence. The move for undoubtedly expensive (by women’s football standards) players of international stature signals a major change in policy, and brings a welcome shift in philosophy to the English game.

Chelsea were scheduled to host league leaders, champions and League Cup holders Arsenal in the FA Cup quarterfinals this weekend, but the match was postponed due to rain.

but nice to hear that!

Its good for the womens game though, because it will raise the games profile.

This is true, but do you not think it would be better for the women's game to raise it's profile alone and not have to rely on the mens teams and therefore sit in the shadows?

It's not going to do much to raise the profile of English players ethier, bringing in players from North America just backs up what I've said in the past about Europe's womens football is alot weaker than in North and Souh America.

It'd be much more benifical if Chelsea brought in strong British or even European players, it would take less cash but it would set a better example to other teams looking to strengthen their squads.

Take England's game against France for example. if half of the players were being pushed out of the club sides then the national team would be in a very fragile state.

Well i can't say i care much, because i don't follow womens football much, because i don't think there is any Pro Women clubs here in Scotland.

But it if they bring in all these amazing foreigners, it will mean there will be more media surrounding them, and then more girls will want to go and play football and want to make it, just liek the coves do, so int he long run it will benefit you. And it should also bring up attendances at the matches, which will also boost the games reputation.

Good post mate, I totally agree with your last comment, exactly that has happeded in English men's football and still their is no foreign player cap/limitation. Even Spain and Italy have implemented caps on foreigners after they began the foreign transfer influx.

Arsenal recently have been fielding zero Englishman in their sides and this can do nothing to help the cause of English footballers. It has ruined the chances of talented English players like David Bentley who were forced to sit on the bench, play in the reserves or be loaned to lower clubs when they could be getting Champions League experience to help their career impression. Bentley was once an outstanding international prospect but now is nothing more than a decent Premiership player.

The women's game is in danger of being hit with similar problems and changes must be made sooner rather than later, before the international transfer idea begins to escalate.

A cap of one non UK player for each Premiers League club would still attract attention and cash to the game with the signing of North American superstars, but wouldn't destroy the chances of developing talented young players from the UK. This has worked in cricket in the UK, but men's football seems to have gone too far already. A balance must be found in the womens game before it's too late, it's time for the authorities to pull their fingers out and make a bold statement.