England defender Jess Carter leaves Chelsea for NWSL’s Gotham

The England defender Jess Carter has signed for the NWSL club Gotham from Chelsea for an undisclosed fee. The 26-year-old has played 36 times for the Lionesses and been a key player for the champions since joining from Birmingham City in 2018.

She is understood to have signed a deal until the end of the 2026 NWSL season. Carter’s fiancee, the Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, signed for New Jersey-based Gotham from Chelsea in April.

Related: WSL transfer window: club-by-club guide to who needs what

Carter played in 21 of Chelsea’s 22 Women’s Super League games last season and helped them win a fifth consecutive league title. She was also a crucial part of the England defence when they reached last August’s World Cup final in Sydney.

Her exit will be a blow to Chelsea’s defensive options but they have strengthened their backline with the arrival of the England right-back Lucy Bronze on a free transfer from Barcelona.

Leicester have signed the 21-year-old French forward Noémie Mouchon on a three-year deal from Reims. Mouchon has arrived from the former club of the new Leicester manager, Amandine Miquel. She scored nine goals in 22 league games under Miquel last season.

Chelsea, Leicester and the other clubs in the WSL and Championship operating a “professional game academy” will be invited to enter their under-21 academy side into the FA Women’s National League Plate competition from the new season. The Plate is a cup for senior teams competing in tiers three and four of the English women’s pyramid.

Prize money is being introduced to the WNL Cup – also for clubs in tiers three and four – and Plate competitions for the first time, with the winners receiving £4,000. Should an academy side from the higher tiers be successful in any rounds where prize money would be awarded, they will not be eligible for prize money.

Everton have confirmed the signing of Inma Gabarro after her Sevilla contract expired. The 21-year-old won the Golden Boot at the 2022 Under-20 World Cup and made her senior Spain debut that year.