Chelsea Football Club has a long history of breaking new ground, and its recent initiatives off the pitch are no exception. The Blues have become the first Women's Super League side to roll out a comprehensive fertility and maternity framework that empowers players to pursue parenthood on their own terms while still competing at the highest level. This policy is the latest chapter in a broader commitment to women’s health that began in February 2020, when head coach Emma Hayes introduced systematic menstrual‑cycle tracking to understand its impact on performance. The new programme builds on that foundation by offering a full suite of reproductive‑health services through a partnership with Fertility Plus, one of London’s leading fertility clinics.
The Fertility Plus fund is open to every member of the squad and covers a wide range of treatments and preventive care, including egg freezing, in‑vitro fertilisation, routine smear tests, contraception, and specialist counselling. Workshops and educational sessions are also provided so players can make informed decisions about their bodies and future families. Importantly, the scheme is entirely voluntary; athletes can access any component they need with the full backing of the club.
Chelsea’s maternity policy goes beyond basic leave. It provides personalised support throughout pregnancy and the post‑natal period, financial assistance for a partner or nanny to travel with the player to away fixtures for up to a year after she returns to training, and enhanced adoption and parental‑leave provisions.
The club also offers wage protection and subsidised childcare, acknowledging that motherhood and elite sport are both full‑time commitments. Head coach Sonia Bompastor explained the philosophy behind the initiative to Sky Sports, saying that Chelsea wants to give its athletes “the knowledge and the options to make the choices that are right for them.” She stressed that no player should have to choose between a professional career and becoming a mother, and that the club’s role is to support each individual’s unique journey. Former goalkeeper and now commercial manager Carly Telford was instrumental in forging the partnership with Fertility Plus. In her own words, she sought a clinic that understood athletes as both sportspersons and women, offering services that go beyond simple egg‑freezing to include hormone management, endometriosis treatment, cycle‑tracking technology and comprehensive testing.
Telford believes that giving players access to this breadth of care sends a powerful message: the club values its athletes as whole people, not just as footballers. Bompastor’s personal experience adds weight to the programme. She and her partner, Chelsea assistant coach Camille Abily, have four children, and she recalls having limited options during her playing days. "I didn’t really have a choice back then," she said.
"I had to end my career earlier than I wanted in order to start a family, because the support structures simply weren’t there." The new policy aims to eliminate that dilemma for the next generation. While no player has publicly announced plans to use the resources yet—a decision that remains private—the feedback from the squad has been overwhelmingly positive. Telford notes that many teammates have expressed relief and gratitude, saying they feel more secure about their future health and family planning.
Chelsea is not starting from scratch. The club has previously supported pregnant players, such as Melanie Leupolz, who gave birth in 2022 and returned to the team, and Zecira Musovic, who had a child after moving back to Sweden in 2025.
These experiences highlighted the need for a formalised structure, especially as older players like former captain Millie Bright contemplate fertility later in their careers. The dual focus on fertility and maternity care creates a seamless support network. Players can address pre‑conception health, manage existing conditions like endometriosis, and receive guidance on pregnancy and post‑natal recovery—all under one umbrella.
Bompastor emphasizes that motherhood is a skill learned through experience, and having access to mentors and shared knowledge can ease the transition for athletes. Beyond the immediate benefits to Chelsea’s roster, Telford hopes the club’s high‑profile stance will spark a wider conversation about women’s health in sport.
She envisions other clubs, leagues and governing bodies adopting similar models, thereby normalising comprehensive reproductive care for female athletes worldwide. "We have a platform," she said, "and we want to use it to change how the entire industry thinks about women’s bodies, both on and off the field." In summary, Chelsea’s groundbreaking fertility and maternity programme offers players a menu of options—from egg freezing to full‑time parental leave—backed by financial, medical and logistical support. By integrating these services into the club’s culture, Chelsea demonstrates that elite performance and family life can coexist, setting a new benchmark for women’s football and for professional sport as a whole.