Chelsea Football Club has long prided itself on being a trailblazer, not only on the pitch but also in the realm of player welfare. In a groundbreaking move for the Women's Super League (WSL), the Blues have introduced a comprehensive fertility and maternity framework that gives their female athletes the freedom to build families while maintaining elite sporting careers.
This initiative builds on earlier innovations, such as the club’s pioneering work in tracking menstrual cycles—first rolled out by manager Emma Hayes in February 2020—to understand how hormonal fluctuations affect performance. The latest policy represents the next logical step in a holistic approach to women’s health. The club has partnered with Fertility Plus, a leading London fertility clinic, to create a dedicated fund that all players can access. The fund covers a wide range of services, including egg freezing, in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF), cervical smear tests, contraception, as well as counselling and educational workshops.
Importantly, the programme is optional; players can draw on the resources in whatever way suits their personal circumstances, with the full support of the club’s medical and welfare staff. Key elements of the Player Maternity Policy include: - Tailored pregnancy and post‑partum recovery plans, designed by specialists to suit each athlete’s unique needs.
- Financial assistance for a partner or nanny to travel with the player to away fixtures for up to a year after she returns to competition. - Enhanced adoption and parental‑leave provisions that go beyond the standard contractual minimums. - Wage protection and subsidised childcare to alleviate the financial pressures of balancing sport and family life.
Chelsea head coach Sonia Bompastor explained to Sky Sports that the club’s mission has always been to provide the best possible support for its players. “We want to empower our athletes with knowledge about all the options available to them,” she said. “Every player’s journey is different, and now they no longer have to choose between a professional career and motherhood—both can coexist.” Former goalkeeper and current commercial manager Carly Telford was instrumental in forging the partnership with Fertility Plus.
In an exclusive interview she highlighted the importance of offering a full spectrum of reproductive health services, not just egg freezing. “We needed a clinic that understood us as athletes first and as women second,” she noted. “The programme gives players the freedom to decide what is right for them, whether that means starting a family now, later, or focusing on their health without pressure.” Bompastor’s own experience adds weight to the initiative. She and her partner, Chelsea assistant coach Camille Abily, have four children.
Reflecting on her playing days, Bompastor recalled that limited options forced her to retire earlier than she might have otherwise. “When I was a player, I didn’t have the knowledge or the support to plan a family while staying at the top level,” she said. “Now, with this policy, our players can receive expert advice, talk openly about fertility, and make informed decisions without sacrificing their ambitions.” Although no player has publicly announced plans to use the new resources, feedback from the squad has been overwhelmingly positive.
Telford, who remains close to many of the current players, reported that teammates appreciate the confidentiality and the sense that the club genuinely cares about their long‑term wellbeing. “The information stays between the doctors at Fertility Plus and our medical team,” she assured, emphasizing the privacy safeguards built into the programme.
Chelsea is not new to supporting pregnant athletes. Midfielder Melanie Leupolz gave birth in 2022 and returned to the first team, while Zecira Musovic took maternity leave in 2025 before re‑joining the squad.
Their experiences helped shape the club’s understanding of the challenges elite mothers face, from managing training loads to coordinating childcare during travel. The policy also prompts a broader conversation about older players and their reproductive choices.
Former captain Millie Bright, who announced her pregnancy after retiring, exemplifies how the club’s support can extend beyond active careers. Telford believes that players in their thirties, who may have previously felt forced to postpone family planning, will now see a viable pathway.
In Bompastor’s words, motherhood is a skill learned on the job, and having a supportive infrastructure makes the transition smoother. “When you’re a high‑level athlete and a mum, you essentially have two full‑time jobs,” she explained. “Our aim is to provide the practical and emotional backing that lets players excel in both roles.” Beyond the immediate benefits for Chelsea’s roster, the club hopes its example will spark change across the sport.
Telford envisions other football organisations, as well as governing bodies like the FA, adopting similar standards. “We have a platform that reaches millions,” she said. “If we can influence other clubs and businesses to think differently about women’s health, we’ll have made a lasting impact.” The initiative underscores a shift in how professional women’s sport addresses the whole person, not just the athlete. By integrating fertility care, maternity support, and comprehensive health education, Chelsea is setting a benchmark that could redefine the relationship between elite sport and family life for generations to come.