Chelsea have signed forward Mara Alber from TSG Hoffenheim on a four-year contract, officially joining the Blues on 1 July 2025.
Alber is a versatile forward who can play on either flank or through the middle and is considered one of the most exciting young talents in Germany.
The 19-year-old told chelseafc.com: ‘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.’
Alber made her Bundesliga debut at the age of just 16 and went on to established herself in the 2023/24 campaign but injury limited her to six league outings last term.
She already has 32 top-flight appearances and seven goals to her name, while internationally finished joint top scorer when Germany lifted the U-17 Euros in 2022 and helper her country to second place at the U-19 Euros.
Paul Green, head of women’s football at Chelsea, said: ‘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.’