Chelsea have signed 21-year-old Alejandra Bernabe from Atletico Madrid, with the full-back going out on loan to Real Sociedad.
Bernabe told chelseafc.com: ‘I am so happy to be here and I’m grateful for the opportunity that Chelsea have given to me. I’m so excited because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world.’
Manager Emma Hayes commented: ‘Alejandra has a fantastic left foot and it’s very difficult to find players of her ability who can progress the ball up the pitch on the dribble. We know she can become a top left-sided player in the future and we’re excited to watch her develop and grow.’
General manager Paul Green added: ‘We believe Alejandra has the potential to be one of the best attacking full-backs in the world. Her attacking play will be a real asset for the team in the future.
‘We look forward to seeing her gain more experience with Real Sociedad next season before welcoming her back into the Chelsea family.’
Bernabe has played 76 senior games so far in her career and featured in the UEFA Women’s Champions League for both Atletico and Sociedad.
At international level, Bernabe was part of the Spain U17 squad that won the 2018 European Championships, making her senior debut in November last year.