Alber returns to Germany for season-long Wolfsburg loan

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Chelsea forward Mara Alber will spend the 2026/27 season on loan at Wolfsburg, returning to the Frauen-Bundesliga a year after leaving Hoffenheim for west London.

Mara Alber Returns To Germany With Wolfsburg

The 20-year-old joined Chelsea from TSG Hoffenheim in the summer of 2025 but has yet to make her first-team debut for the Blues. She spent the second half of last season on loan at Werder Bremen instead, appearing 13 times and contributing two goals and an assist as she looked to build match sharpness.

Chelsea wish Alber well for the campaign ahead and will follow her progress at Wolfsburg closely, with the midfielder very much viewed as one for the future at Stamford Bridge.

Alber Reunites With Stephan Lerch At Wolfsburg

Alber has now made the step up to Wolfsburg, who finished as Bundesliga runners-up last season and reached the DFB-Pokal final. She will wear the number 18 shirt and has racked up 45 Frauen-Bundesliga appearances in her career to date.

Mara Alber in a VfL Wolfsburg women's football team jersey during a match.
Mara Alber competing for VfL Wolfsburg Frauen.

A reunion with head coach Stephan Lerch was a driving factor behind the move. Alber previously worked under Lerch at Hoffenheim and said the chance to link up with him again made the decision an easy one, with her focus now on integrating quickly and helping the team straight away.

Wolfsburg’s women’s football leadership sees Alber as an addition who brings genuine quality and creativity to their attacking options for the season ahead.

Alber’s Wolfsburg Move Confirmed Ahead Of Supercup Clash

The loan was confirmed in the buildup to Wolfsburg’s Supercup meeting with Bayern Munich, the traditional curtain-raiser to the new Frauen-Bundesliga season. Alber also remains a regular for Germany’s Under-23s, with nine caps and three goals for the age group to her name.

For Chelsea, the move gives Alber a fresh platform to build on her senior experience gained at Bremen, with the club keeping tabs on her progress throughout 2026/27.

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About Elsa Vanhanen 75 Articles
Elsa writes for fans who actually watch the games, not just the highlights. She keeps things honest, skips the fluff, and is never far from an opinion about a pressing system or a transfer window decision she thinks someone got badly wrong.