(Photo Credit: EM Dash | Imagn Images)
Chelsea FC has acquired Japanese midfielder Manaka Matsukubo from the North Carolina Courage for an undisclosed transfer fee. She has signed a five-year deal with Chelsea. The 21-year-old was named the National Women’s Soccer League Midfielder of the Year in 2025, and was nominated for MVP. Manaka is known for her crafty footwork, clinical shooting, and exceptional vision; she is widely regarded as one of the best young players in the world.
Manaka joined the Courage from the WE League team Vegalta Sendai in 2023 as an 18-year-old, and has made 58 regular season appearances for the team. In 2025, she scored 11 goals, third most in the NWSL. This year, she has scored five goals in nine appearances. She has made four assists in 2026, including one in each of her last three appearances.
Manaka was set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, having most recently extended her contract in January 2025. Per a release from the Courage, there was a clause in her contract that required the Courage to approve any transfer at or above a certain threshold. The Courage sits in seventh place in the NWSL standings with 18 points, just above the playoff line.
In Chelsea, Manaka is joining a prestigious club that has recently lost longtime players Sam Kerr, Guro Reiten, and Catarina Macario to the NWSL.
