Chelsea Football Club has long prided itself on being a trailblazer, and the latest initiative proves that the club’s pioneering spirit extends far beyond the pitch. In a landmark move for the Women’s Super League (WSL), Chelsea has introduced a comprehensive fertility and maternity framework that gives its female athletes the freedom to plan families while continuing to compete at the highest level.
This policy, the first of its kind in the league, offers a suite of medical, financial and logistical support designed to help players navigate pregnancy, childbirth and post‑natal recovery without having to sacrifice their professional ambitions. The club’s commitment to women’s health began years earlier when head coach Emma Hayes launched a menstrual‑cycle tracking programme in February 2020. By monitoring how each player’s cycle influences performance, the team gained valuable insight into the physiological factors that affect training and match readiness.
The new fertility policy builds directly on that foundation, expanding the scope from cycle awareness to full‑scale reproductive care. Chelsea has partnered with Fertility Plus, one of London’s most respected fertility clinics, to create a dedicated fund that any player can draw on. The fund covers a broad range of services, including egg freezing, in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF), cervical smear testing, contraception, hormone therapy, endometriosis treatment and personalised counselling. Workshops and educational sessions are also provided so that athletes can make well‑informed decisions about their reproductive health.
Importantly, participation is entirely voluntary; the club does not mandate any particular course of action, but simply ensures that the resources are readily available. The maternity component of the policy is equally robust. It guarantees personalised support throughout pregnancy and the post‑partum period, with bespoke recovery plans that take each player’s unique circumstances into account. Financial assistance is offered to cover the cost of a partner or nanny accompanying the athlete on away fixtures for up to a year after she returns to competition.
The policy also introduces enhanced adoption and parental‑leave provisions, wage protection and subsidised childcare, thereby removing many of the logistical hurdles that have traditionally forced women to choose between sport and family. Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea’s head coach, highlighted the significance of the initiative in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports. She explained that the club’s aim is to equip players with knowledge and options, allowing them to decide what works best for their individual lives.
"Every player is different, every individual is different, they have a different journey and you can make a choice based on what you know and what is available for you," Bompastor said. "You don't have to choose anymore between your professional career and your personal life being a mum. Now, both are possible." Carly Telford, a former goalkeeper and now commercial manager for the women’s side, was instrumental in forging the partnership with Fertility Plus. She told Sky Sports that she wanted a clinic that understood athletes as both sportspeople and women, offering services that go beyond simple egg freezing.
"I wanted to find a fertility clinic that offered more than just optional things, but to give choices around hormones, endometriosis, cycle tracking, testing – something all‑encompassing around the female body," Telford explained. She emphasized that the ultimate decision rests with the player, and that the club’s role is to provide a supportive environment where those choices can be made confidently. Bompastor’s own experience adds a personal dimension to the policy.
She and her partner, Chelsea assistant coach Camille Abily, have four children. Reflecting on her playing days, Bompastor admitted that limited options forced her to retire earlier than she might have otherwise, as she felt she had to sacrifice motherhood for her career. "When I reflect on my own story and experience, I didn't really have the choice," she said. "Now, to have a club who is able to support the players, bringing them the knowledge, allowing them to talk about that subject is really important for us and giving them different opportunities to become a mum when they decide to." Although no player has publicly announced plans to use the new resources yet, Telford reports that the feedback from the squad has been overwhelmingly positive.
Players appreciate the confidentiality of the medical information and the reassurance that they will not be penalised for pursuing family‑building options. The club’s leadership group has communicated the details to the entire team, and many athletes have expressed relief that such support exists.
Chelsea is not entirely new to pregnancy within its ranks. Midfielder Melanie Leupolz gave birth in 2022 and returned to first‑team action, while Zecira Musovic took maternity leave after moving back to Sweden in 2025. Former captain Millie Bright, now retired, recently announced her pregnancy, underscoring the relevance of the policy for players in their thirties who may have previously felt forced to postpone family planning.
The dual programmes—fertility assistance and maternity support—work in tandem to address the full spectrum of reproductive health. By offering both preventative care (such as cycle tracking and hormone management) and reactive support (including IVF and post‑natal recovery), Chelsea ensures that its athletes can maintain peak performance while also safeguarding their long‑term wellbeing. Beyond the immediate benefits for Chelsea players, Telford hopes the club’s high‑profile stance will spark broader change across sport. She believes that other football clubs, governing bodies and even businesses should reconsider how they support women’s health.
"We want to be followed for the things we're doing around the team that have a wider impact when it comes to women in general," she said. "If we can make businesses, other football clubs and other sports think differently around their women, that is what we want to do." In her closing remarks, Bompastor highlighted the reality that motherhood adds a second full‑time job to an athlete’s already demanding schedule. She stressed that without institutional backing, many players would struggle to balance training, travel and childcare. "All these elements are really important for the players to have, but also for them to know there are different opportunities and they are available for them," she affirmed.
Chelsea’s groundbreaking policy not only sets a new benchmark for the WSL but also sends a powerful message about the importance of holistic support for female athletes. By integrating fertility care, maternity leave, financial aid and educational resources, the club is redefining what it means to be a professional footballer and a mother in the modern era.
The initiative stands as a model that other clubs and leagues are likely to emulate, paving the way for a future where women can pursue both sporting excellence and family life without compromise.