Chelsea Ladies have made their first signing of 2017 with the recruitment of world-class American international Crystal Dunn.

The highly versatile 24-year-old joins Emma Hayes’s side from Washington Spirit in her homeland and has signed a contract until 2018.

Dunn said: ‘It’s a big personal challenge for me but I am ready to take this next step in my career. Playing for Chelsea is a unique opportunity for me to take my game to another level and I think the moment is right.

‘I have only been to London once before but there is something that grabbed me about Chelsea. The whole family culture - the unity, the morale - is making it feel just like home.

‘I’m excited because Chelsea has a large fanbase and their relationship with the men’s team alone is just incredible. I’m looking forward to the games and to seeing all the fans who come out and support and hopefully we can all help add to the growth of women's football in England. 

‘I'm going to give my all. It would be a dream to play in the Champions League and I am ready to help out the team in any way. I’m excited to join my new team-mates and join forces with them.'

Hayes added: ‘Crystal is hands-down one of the best young players to have come through in the United States in recent years. She’s just been voted second in US Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year, she is a Hermann Trophy winner, she has been a league top scorer and she has come out of a fantastic college programme. We are really getting a top-quality player coming to England.

‘She is incredibly dynamic, she is very quick and when she gets in and around the penalty box, she is absolutely devastating. She has the ability one v one to tear teams to shreds and she has good versatility as she can play in a wing-back or full-back role for us, as well as playing in any of the front-three positions. Importantly, she brings the world-class quality we have been looking to add to our squad.’

Dunn’s game is characterised by her speed, versatility and tenacity. She has been known to play in defence or midfield, but recently has most often been deployed as an attacker, either up front or out wide, including for the USA Women’s national side for whom she is a regular having made her debut in 2013.

-          Find out more about Crystal Dunn in our Factfile below and in an interview on this website later this week…