Chelsea signed 19-year-old Mara Alber from Hoffenheim this summer and the rising star is already looking forward to making her Stamford Bridge debut next season.
Alber agreed to a four-year contract with Chelsea after kickstarting her career in the Frauen-Bundesliga for Hoffenheim, where she made her debut in 2022 at the age of 16.
The forward makes her move to the WSL following a difficult year in Germany with a serious injury ruling her out for the majority of the 2024/25 campaign.
Despite the injury, Alber remains one of the most exciting prospects to come out of Germany in the past decade and she was the only player under the age of 20 to get more than 10 goals contributions in the Frauen Bundesliga during a breakout 2023/24 season.
Mara Alber excited to start Chelsea journey
Speaking for the first time since signing for the Blues, Alber said: “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.”
From Brackenheim to the Bridge. 💙
Willkommen, Mara Alber. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/NdQuM7H9X2
— (C)helsea FC Women 🏆🏆🏆 (@ChelseaFCW) June 11, 2025
As well as an impressive start to her domestic career, Alber has also already proved herself on the international stage at youth level, picking up the golden boot at the U17 Euros in 2022 as Germany won the championship.
Even though she has played for her country, when Alber makes her debut at Stamford Bridge next season it will be a completely new experience altogether.
“The WSL looks like a physical league where the action goes from end-to-end and I think it will be really fun to play in the WSL. It seems like a really cool league,” she said.
“Having the chance to play in such big games with big attendances will be really special. They will be goosebump moments which I know I will never forget.”
The 19-year-old will be moving away from home for the first time this year but Alber is excited for the big move that will only help progress her career both on the domestic and international stage.
