Ellie Carpenter becomes Chelsea's surprise star
Ellie Carpenter scored within six minutes of coming on after Chelsea were level with Roma at half-time, a substitute appearance that helped the Blues to a 2-0 victory in that match this season. The goal was one example of Carpenter's growing influence for Chelsea across the current campaign.
Head coach Sonia Bompastor defended the decision to introduce Carpenter in that game, saying: "I made the final decision and someone in my technical staff said: 'But we need to score, and you are bringing on a defensive player?'" She added: "We laughed after the game because I said: 'Right now, she's scoring a lot of goals, so I don't know if she's a more defensive or attacking player!'" and said: "It worked so it's good. I was confident Ellie would create a lot in the second half." Chelsea report that Carpenter has played in every WSL game for the club this season and has started all but one of their league matches.
Carpenter has scored four goals from a full-back or wing-back position this season and featured in Chelsea's 6-0 WSL win at Charlton, where she opened the scoring in the 13th minute. In that match she also won the most tackles (three) and made the most ball recoveries (12) of any Chelsea player.
Across the WSL campaign to date, only Khadija Shaw, Lauren Hemp and Victoria Pelova have recorded more touches in the opposition box than Carpenter's total of 56, and only Manchester City's Hemp and Tottenham's Drew Spence have created more chances from open play. Club data also place Carpenter second in the squad for successful tackles made.
Statistically, Carpenter has generated 19 chances in the WSL this season and completed 141 successful passes in the final third, the most by any Chelsea player. The club states she ranks first at Chelsea for touches in the opposition box and for successful passes in the final third.
Former England striker Ellen White praised Carpenter on the Women's Football Weekly podcast, saying: "She has been brilliant this season and she has that attacking prowess," and adding: "She has comfort behind her because she has trust in the other defenders and midfielders to give her the licence to go forward. "I love her celebrations too! Opposition [teams] target players who are most prolific, but Chelsea have four or five who can score from anywhere on the pitch." Bompastor has also commented on Carpenter's technical improvement: "Ellie is performing at a really good level. She has goals from her left foot too which is unusual," said Frenchwoman Bompastor. "She is able to impact the game. The way we want to play as a team, she is really important out of possession and in possession. "In possession, she always has the mindset and mentality to go forward. She has a lot of pace and is improving a lot in terms of her technical aspects. "She is now able to deliver really good crosses, to be in the box and be clinical to score goals. I'm not sure she can have a bigger impact than what she is right now."
Carpenter joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2025, having worked under Bompastor at the French club and won the Champions League together in 2022, and has transitioned into the right wing-back role this season while Lucy Bronze has moved inside as part of a back three. Chelsea have conceded four goals this season, the fewest of any WSL side, according to the article.
Unbeaten Chelsea sit top of the Women's Super League table, having only dropped points in their opening-weekend draw with Aston Villa.
