Page 8 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.17 2020-21

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Aniek Nouwen from PSV Eindhoven. The 22-year-old
Netherlands defender has agreed pre-contract terms on a three-year deal which commits
her to the club until the summer of 2024. She will join up with Emma Hayes’ squad ahead
of the 2021-22 campaign.
Nouwen made her professional debut in 2016 with PSV and has been a standout
player for the team since with over 100 club appearances and 15 goals to her name. PSV
have had an impressive track record so far this season and are currently vying for the top
spot in the Eredivisie league play-offs and are also heading to the KNVB Women’s Cup final
against Den Haag in June, having recently beaten Ajax.
The talented youngster arrives with significant international experience, having
made her debut for the Netherlands senior national team against Poland in 2019 and since
gone on to become an integral member of the squad, making fourteen appearances for her
home country.
Nouwen’s first goal was scored in a 7-0 victory over Estonia which saw her side
qualify for the Women’s Euros in 2022. Prior to this she was called up to represent the
Under-20 team at the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, playing all of the Netherlands
matches in the tournament, making it to the quarter finals but narrowly missing out to
England 2-1.
Nouwen also featured in the Under-19 team at the 2017 and 2018 UEFA Women’s
Under-19 Championships, reaching the semi-final stages in 2017, as well as featuring in the
Under-17 team in the 2016 and 2017 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship qualifiers.
On signing for Chelsea, Nouwen told the Chelsea website: “There were other clubs
who were interested, but I made my decision to join Chelsea pretty fast!
“To play in the English league has always been a dream for me as it is the best
competition and it provides the best opportunity for me to develop even more. I’m very
honoured and proud to become a Blue and I can’t wait to be a part of this winning team. I
want to win prizes and play in the big games.
“I’m looking forward to joining up with the team, it’s all going to be very new but
I’m really excited.”
Chelsea manager Emma Hayes commented: “Aniek really is an exciting addition to
our squad. Not only does she bring a wealth of league and international experience for her
age, she is also very composed on the ball and her physicality will certainly suit the English
league.
“I have no doubt Aniek is one of the best young defenders in the world and has a
very bright future ahead of her with us. We cannot wait to welcome her to Cobham this
summer.”
Nouwen hopes to be part of the Netherlands national team in Japan this summer
at the Tokyo Olympics and will join the Blues upon her return, with her first chance of
selection at Chelsea’s opening game of the 2021-22 season.
In the meantime, Emma Hayes’ squad will fly out to Sweden for the UEFA
Women’s Champions League Final against FC Barcelona, with the game hosted at Gamla
Ullevi in Gothenburg.
The match, which takes place on Sunday, kicks off at 8pm BST and will be televised
live on BT Sport.
Chelsea will be making history as the first club to have both its men’s and women’s
teams reach their respective Champions League finals in the same season. Whichever team
wins will become the first club ever to lift both trophies.
Issue no. 17 - 13 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk