Colombia forward Mayra Ramirez joins WSL champions Chelsea

Chelsea have announced the signing of Colombia forward Mayra Ramirez on a four-and-a-half-year deal.

The 24-year-old, holder of 30 international caps, joins the Women’s Super League champions from Levante, with whom she had been since 2022.

Levante said the fee was 450,000 euros (£384,000), with add-ons worth 50,000 euros (£42,600), and it has been reported that it is a British record transfer that, with the add-ons included, would be a world record deal.

Previously at Huelva, Ramirez has scored 32 goals in 95 games across the last four years in the Spanish top flight.

She arrives with Chelsea – who have also signed defender Nathalie Bjorn from Everton in the current transfer window – having recently lost star striker Sam Kerr to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Ramirez said in a statement from the club: “I am very honoured to be a part of Chelsea. To be part of such a huge club is a dream come true and one I’ve had since I was a little girl.”

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes told a press conference on Friday afternoon: “I think everybody knows her qualities. She’s so excited to be here and we’re really, really excited to have her.

“Her physicality is unbelievable, it really is. She’s got so much size but presence and power and she’s quick with the ball. She’s a threat in the box, she scores goals.

“She doesn’t speak English, so two or three of us are helping her with that. It will take a little bit of time to settle. But I’m sure she will bring a lot of qualities to our league.”

Hayes said she was unsure about whether Ramirez would be available on Saturday when league leaders Chelsea play at Brighton, saying: “I don’t actually know. I know she has trained this morning. In terms of international clearance, I don’t know at this moment in time.”