Chelsea Ladies snap up Dutch midfielder

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Chelsea Ladies have signed Dutch-born attacking midfielder Jackie Groenen.

The 19-year-old has joined from German side FCR 2001 Duisburg and will bolster manager Emma Hayes’ attacking options for the new FA Women’s Super League season, which gets underway in April.

She played 55 times in the German Bundesliga, scoring 14 goals.

“I want to develop my game and the opportunity at Chelsea gives me the chance to live my passion and play and train with top players every day,” she said.

“I am confident that together, the team and I will achieve our goals and I am excited to be joining the FA WSL for a new start in my young career.

“The set-up at Chelsea Ladies, the club, team and the staff are the ideal fit for me and have the same high standards I expect. I am looking forward to getting started.”

Groenen was born in the Netherlands but grew up in Belgium. He has represented Holland at youth level and is currently deciding which country to represent on the senior stage.

She is manager Hayes’ seventh signing of a busy winter in which Chelsea have also brought in English quartet Rachel Williams, Laura Bassett, Gilly Flaherty and Katie Chapman as well as Sweden’s Emma Wilhelmsson and South Korean playmaker Ji So-Yun.

Hayes said: “Jackie is a talented young player who fits our playing style.

“She is very technical and very composed in possession and has a lot of experience for someone so young having played in one of the top leagues in Europe in Germany.

“Jackie has impressed us and I’m sure she will be a good addition to the group.”

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