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Chelsea make double swoop

Chelsea Football Club have bolstered their women’s squad with the signings of Swiss international goalkeeper Livia Peng from Werder Bremen and German Under-23 forward Mara Alber from TSG Hoffenheim.

Both players will join the Blues on 1 July 2025, each signing four-year contracts, as confirmed by the official Chelsea website.

Peng, 23, arrives with a wealth of experience, having won a league and cup double with FC Zurich in 2019 and 2022. She became a first team regular at Werder Bremen in the Frauen Bundesliga last season, starting all but one match as the club secured a seventh place finish. Her standout performance came in the German Women’s Cup semi final, where she helped Bremen reach their first ever final, defeating Hamburg 3-1 in front of a record 57,000 fans.

Peng, who debuted for FC Zurich at 17 and has seven caps for Switzerland, expressed her excitement to the Chelsea FC official website: “It feels so good to be here. When I was 10, I dreamed of playing for Chelsea. Now, my childhood dream has come true and it’s so exciting. I’m really happy to join the Chelsea family and get started. It’s such a big club. Chelsea want to win titles and so do I. We’re a good match. I’m hungry to win here.”

Paul Green, head of women’s football at Chelsea, highlighted Peng’s attributes: “Livia is a proactive and athletic goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at her feet. Out of possession, she protects the space behind her defenders and is strong in one-v-one situations. Livia will add further competition to our already talented goalkeeping group, and we look forward to seeing her develop in a Chelsea shirt.”

Peng’s career also includes a stint at BK Hacken in Sweden and a loan spell at Levante in Spain, alongside appearances for Switzerland at the 2022 Women’s European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.

At just 19, Mara Alber is regarded as one of Germany’s brightest young talents. The versatile forward, capable of playing on either wing or centrally, has made 32 top flight appearances for Hoffenheim, scoring seven goals, despite missing much of the 2024-25 season through injury. Alber debuted in the Frauen Bundesliga at 16 and established herself as a regular in the 2023-24 campaign.

Internationally, Alber has shone, finishing as joint top goalscorer at the 2022 Under-17 Euros, where Germany triumphed, and earning third best player honours at the Under-17 World Cup that year. She also scored twice in the 2023 Under-19 Euros, where Germany reached the final.

Alber shared her pride at joining Chelsea, telling the Chelsea FC official website: “I feel proud to have signed for Chelsea. It is a special moment for me because it is such a big club, and I am really happy to have this opportunity. I am a player who has worked really hard up until this point and I am someone who always gives 100 per cent every day in training and in every match I play – I just love football so much.”

Paul Green praised Alber’s potential: “Mara is a player we have been tracking for many years, despite her young age. She established herself as a key player for Hoffenheim over the last few years, despite the majority of her 2024-25 being cut short due to injury. Mara has also showed her considerable talent with the German youth national teams, scoring in the final against Spain to win the Under-17 Euros, and reaching the final of the Under-19 Euros. We are looking forward to seeing Mara continue to develop over the coming years and are delighted to welcome her to Chelsea.”

The arrivals of Peng and Alber add depth and versatility to Chelsea’s squad as they aim to maintain their dominance in the Women’s Super League and compete in Europe. Peng’s experience and shot-stopping ability will challenge the existing goalkeeping unit, while Alber’s flair and goalscoring prowess offer an exciting option in attack. Both players are expected to make significant contributions as Chelsea pursue more silverware in the 2025-26 season.