OL Lyonnes Confirm Signing of Ashley Lawrence from Chelsea
OL Lyonnes officially confirmed the signing of Canadian star Ashley Lawrence on a contract until 2028, bringing to an end her two-year spell at Chelsea.
Lawrence’s Transfer to Lyonnes
29-year-old right-back joined Chelsea in 2023 on a 2026 contract, and during the 2024/25 season, she made over 30 appearances and two goals. She returns to French football from where previously, she played six productive years at Paris Saint-Germain, appeared 112 times, gained one Division 1 title, and won two Coupe de France cups.
A seasoned defender of global pedigree, Lawrence ought to offer leadership and stability to Lyonnes’ backline under new manager Jonatan Giráldez.
In a statement issued by the club, Lyonnes said:
“The club is delighted to sign Ashley, whose experience and leadership will be a welcome addition to Jonatan Giráldez’s squad.”
International Pedigree
With 147 international caps for Canada (125 starts), Lawrence has been a fixture of her national team since debuting in 2013. She was a member of Canada’s Olympic bronze medal at Rio 2016 and historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020.
Ellie Carpenter To Chelsea?
As part of an expected exchange deal, reports from Le Parisien reveal that Ellie Carpenter could be sent the other way, from Lyonnes to Chelsea.
The 24-year-old Australian right-back has been the key player for Lyonnes since joining the club in 2020, taking the team to European and domestic dominance. She was the youngest-ever NWSL player at 16 years old previously while playing for Portland Thorns.
Since she is contracted until 2026, Chelsea would need to pay a fee, but her attacking contribution, defensive solidity, and general pace make her an ideal replacement for Lawrence.
What’s Next?
Lawrence will back Lyonnes’ defence as they attempt to nick the Division 1 title from PSG.
Carpenter’s potential move to Chelsea would be another Blues acquisition of one of the planet’s finest full-backs.
