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Chelsea in landmark fertility policy: ‘Being a player and mum are both possible now’

Chelsea are used to being the first. While plenty of that has come on the pitch, it is the behind the scenes work that is truly leading the way for female players and women's health.

Published: Friday, 25 September 2026 at 7:00 AM
Chelsea in landmark fertility policy: ‘Being a player and mum are both possible now’
Key Things to Know
  • Chelsea Women became the first WSL team to launch dedicated fertility and player maternity policies.
  • The club partnered with Fertility Plus to fund treatments including IVF, egg freezing, and counseling.
  • The maternity plan provides wage support, subsidized childcare, and travel funding for partners or nannies.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Chelsea Women have become the first club in the Women's Super League to introduce dedicated fertility and player maternity policies. Head coach Sonia Bompastor and former goalkeeper Carly Telford discussed the groundbreaking initiative, which aims to provide players with resources to start families while continuing their elite sports careers.

Under the new measures, Chelsea partnered with London clinic Fertility Plus to offer a dedicated fund covering egg freezing, IVF, smear tests, contraception, and counseling. The comprehensive maternity policy also delivers personalized recovery support, subsidized childcare, enhanced parental leave, and travel funding for partners or nannies during away fixtures.

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