Jess Carter – a former PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year – is set to challenge Millie Bright as Chelsea’s right-back.

Signed from Birmingham City on a three-year contract, the 20-year-old’s arrival is seen as an important strengthening of the area that manager Emma Hayes holds most dear… defence. Hayes and Carter are pictured, above, at Stamford Bridge.

The young England international (who already has nine caps at U19, U20 and U23 levels) is expected to wear No4. She is also able to play in midfield.

“It’s not just domestic trophies – Chelsea want to win the Champions League,” said Carter. “I have the same ambitions as them. Hopefully they can push me, I can push them, and together we can achieve that.

“I want to win trophies. I want to make a name for myself, to improve as a footballer and as a person, and that’s why I’m here. I want to do whatever I can to help make this team even more successful than it already is.

“It was the right time for me to leave Birmingham. I needed a new challenge, another push, and an environment that was going to take me to the next level. I think Chelsea is the place to do that.”

It is Hayes’ third major squad-strengthening move at Kingsmeadow following the signing of goalkeeper Lizzie Durack and midfielder Sophie Ingle, and underlines Chelsea’s determination to build on their recent dazzling double-winning season.

“We’ve looked at the development of this squad and progression of this team and felt if we are going to take one step further, especially in Europe, we need to improve the physicality of the side,” explained Hayes.

“Jess is a player I’ve been watching since she’s 16 – I saw her debut for Birmingham in the Champions League – and she’s certainly got the character, the mentality and all the attributes to be hugely successful in a Chelsea shirt. I’m very excited.

“I think it’s something I recruit a lot of – players who can play in two, three or four different positions if needs be,” said the gaffer. “That’s what helped us win the double, and Jess will fit in nicely. She can play centre-midfield, wing-back, centre-back. It’s a big responsibility to wear this badge, but she’s a player who has been developed in the right way by Birmingham and she’s ready for this next step.”

It was in 2017 that Cater was named the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year. She will join up with her new Chelsea team-mates when pre-season training begins on July 7.