Chelsea Football Club has long prided itself on being a trailblazer, not only on the pitch but also in the way it supports its athletes off the field. In a groundbreaking move for the Women’s Super League (WSL), the Blues have rolled out a comprehensive fertility and maternity framework that gives players the freedom to start families on their own terms while still competing at the highest level.
This initiative builds on the club’s earlier efforts to integrate women’s health into performance science, such as the pioneering menstrual‑cycle tracking programme introduced by manager Emma Hayes in February 2020. The new policy represents the next logical step in a broader strategy to treat female athletes as whole people, not just as footballers. Through a partnership with Fertility Plus, one of London’s most respected fertility clinics, Chelsea has created a dedicated fund that any player can tap into for a range of reproductive services.
The fund covers egg freezing, in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF), routine smear tests, contraception, and also provides access to counselling and educational workshops. Importantly, the programme is entirely optional; players decide how, when and whether to use the resources, and the club pledges full confidentiality and support throughout the process. The maternity component of the policy is equally extensive.
It offers personalised care plans for pregnancy and post‑natal recovery, financial assistance for a partner or nanny to travel with the player to away fixtures for up to a year after her return, and enhanced adoption and parental‑leave provisions. Wage protection and subsidised childcare are also part of the package, ensuring that returning mothers can focus on both their families and their football without undue financial strain.
Head coach Sonia Bompastor explained to Sky Sports that the club’s aim is to give players the knowledge and options they need to make informed decisions about their bodies and careers. "We want to be a club that empowers every individual to choose the path that works for them," she said. "No player should have to choose between a professional career and motherhood any more. Both are now possible, and we are here to support that journey." Former goalkeeper and current commercial manager Carly Telford was instrumental in forging the collaboration with Fertility Plus.
She told Sky Sports that she had witnessed first‑hand the challenges female athletes face when navigating fertility choices and wanted Chelsea to lead the way. "We needed a clinic that understood us as athletes and as women," Telford explained. "The service had to go beyond egg freezing and include hormone management, endometriosis treatment, cycle tracking and comprehensive testing.
The aim is to give each player a full suite of options and let them decide what fits their personal circumstances." Bompastor’s own experience adds weight to the policy. She and her partner, assistant coach Camille Abily, have four children, and Bompastor recalls how limited options forced her to end her playing career earlier than she would have liked. "When I was a player, I didn’t have a real choice," she reflected.
"I had to balance a promising career with the desire to become a mother, and the lack of support made that decision incredibly hard. Today, I’m proud that my club can offer the resources I never had." Although no Chelsea player has publicly announced plans to use the new services, the response within the squad has been positive. Telford said she consulted with several teammates, many of whom expressed enthusiasm and asked to be kept informed.
Confidentiality agreements ensure that any medical information shared with Fertility Plus remains strictly between the player, the clinic and the club’s medical staff. Chelsea is not starting from scratch when it comes 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 after her baby’s arrival.
Former captain Millie Bright, now retired, recently announced her pregnancy, underscoring how the club’s policies also benefit older players who may be thinking about family planning later in their careers. The dual focus on fertility and maternity care creates a seamless support network.
Players can address pre‑conception health, manage menstrual health, and receive guidance on pregnancy and post‑natal recovery—all under one umbrella. This holistic approach acknowledges the clear link between reproductive health and athletic performance, ensuring that athletes receive the medical, psychological and logistical assistance they need to thrive both on the pitch and at home. Bompastor highlighted the broader cultural impact of the programme, noting that motherhood is a skill learned through experience, not a textbook lesson.
"Having platforms where players can share their stories and access expert advice is transformative," she said. "When you combine elite sport with parenting, you essentially have two full‑time jobs. The club’s support makes it possible to excel at both." Beyond the immediate benefits for Chelsea’s squad, Telford hopes the club’s high profile will spark a wider conversation about women’s health in sport. She believes that other football clubs, governing bodies and even businesses should reconsider how they support female employees and athletes.
"We have a massive platform," she said. "If we can influence other organisations to adopt similar policies, we can improve health outcomes for women far beyond football." In her own words, Telford wishes she had known more about her body during her playing days—how to optimise performance around her menstrual cycle, how to safeguard long‑term fertility, and what options were available after retirement.
The new Chelsea programme now provides that knowledge, and she hopes it will encourage a generation of athletes to take greater control of their reproductive health. Overall, Chelsea’s fertility and maternity initiatives represent a landmark step for women’s football, setting a benchmark that other clubs and leagues are likely to follow.
By offering financial aid, medical expertise, and flexible leave arrangements, the Blues are demonstrating that elite sport and motherhood are not mutually exclusive but can coexist with the right support structure. The club’s commitment sends a powerful message: when clubs invest in the whole person, they not only enhance player wellbeing but also pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future for women’s sport.