Chelsea women have completed the signing of promising young defender Nelly Las, with the England youth international becoming the latest player to join Sonia Bompastor’s squad ahead of the new season.
The 18-year-old arrives from Leicester City after progressing through the Foxes’ academy and gaining valuable senior experience despite her young age.
During the second half of last season, Nelly Las also spent time on loan at Ipswich Town, where she continued her development before earning a move to the Women’s Super League giants.
Capable of playing at right-back and elsewhere across the defence, Las has already represented England at several youth levels and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of this summer’s UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championship.
Now, she has the opportunity to continue her progress at one of the biggest clubs in women’s football.
Speaking after completing the move, the teenager admitted joining Chelsea women is something she has dreamed about for years.
“It feels absolutely amazing. It’s something you dream of since you start football, to sign for a team like Chelsea and to reach a level like this. To be signing for Chelsea, I’m speechless.
“I’m really excited to run out at Stamford Bridge as a Chelsea player. I’ve had a look around the stadium and it is unreal. I can’t wait to meet all the fans and get the season underway.”
Nelly Las Transfer: Chelsea’s Winning Culture Played a Major Role
Nelly Las explained that Chelsea women’s long history of success made the club an attractive destination, but trophies are only one part of what convinced her to make the move.
She believes joining a squad filled with world-class players will provide the perfect environment to improve every aspect of her game.
Rather than focusing on immediate opportunities in the first team, the defender wants to learn from the experienced players around her and continue developing both on and off the pitch.
The teenager said becoming a better footballer is her biggest objective as she begins life at Cobham, while also hoping to settle into the group as quickly as possible.
“I think as a footballer, every footballer wants to win trophies, every footballer is competitive and wants to do well.
“So I think a club like Chelsea, how successful they are, that is definitely a reason you want to come.
“But I just think learning from all the players around me is my main goal, to develop as a player on and off the pitch. And, yeah, hopefully integrate myself into the team.”
That mentality reflects the approach Las has taken throughout her career. Having worked her way through Leicester City’s academy before making the step into senior football, she now sees Chelsea women as the ideal place to continue that progression.
Learning from Lucy Bronze and Ellie Carpenter
Among the biggest attractions of joining Chelsea is the chance to work alongside some of the best defenders in the women’s game.
Nelly Las highlighted Lucy Bronze and Ellie Carpenter as two players she is particularly excited to learn from. Both full-backs have enjoyed outstanding careers at club and international level, and the young defender believes training with them every day will help take her game to another level.
Rather than simply sharing a dressing room with established internationals, Las hopes to make the most of every opportunity to ask questions, observe their habits and improve through daily training sessions.
“I can definitely learn from them. I think they’re both the best right-backs out there and being in an environment where I can ask them questions and learn from them is just incredible.
“I’m so excited to watch them on a daily basis and learn from them and grow as a player.”
Bronze has been one of Las’ biggest inspirations for several years, making the move to Chelsea even more special.
“I always watched Lucy Bronze, which is kind of crazy being here and knowing she’s going to be my team-mate. But I think the whole country knows how great she is, so she’s definitely a player I’ve looked up to.”
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England Connections Should Ease the Transition
Nelly Las will not be arriving at Chelsea without familiar faces around her.
Having spent several years representing England’s youth teams, she already knows a number of Chelsea’s younger players through international football. Those existing relationships should help make the transition into a new club much smoother as she adapts to her surroundings.
She also praised the close relationship between Chelsea’s senior squad and the academy setup, revealing that first-team players regularly show their support for the club’s younger sides.
“We see the senior players in and around the building, but also they came to watch one of our Under-19s fixtures at St George’s Park, so it’s good to see the support from the top, really.
“I know some of the younger girls, like Lola [Brown], Chloe [Sarwie], Lexi [Potter], Katie [Cox]. That will definitely help me settle into the squad quickly.”
Nelly Las describes herself as an energetic, hard-working player who enjoys contributing at both ends of the pitch. While she takes pride in being defensively solid, she is equally keen to get forward when the opportunity arises and help create goals for her teammates.
Above all, however, she believes her desire to keep improving is what defines her most.
“I would say I’m always hard-working and I always give 100 per cent.I always bring energy and I’m quite a direct player.
“I like going forward and helping hopefully to get some goals and assists, but also being solid at the back.
“I would say my one-v-ones is my biggest strength, offensively and defensively, but also just my work rate and wanting to learn and wanting to get better.”
With youth international experience already under her belt and the chance to learn from some of the game’s very best defenders, Las begins her Chelsea career with the ideal platform to continue her development as one of England’s brightest young prospects.
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