Chelsea Women have made four changes for their Women’s Super League opener against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge, with new club captain Erin Cuthbert still absent from the matchday squad.
Veerle Buurman, Katie McCabe, Sjoeke Nusken and Alyssa Thompson all come into the starting XI following Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League win over Real Sociedad.
Lucy Bronze captains Sonia Bompastor’s side as Chelsea begin their first WSL campaign with Stamford Bridge as their permanent league home.
Our first XI of the league season. 👊
©️ Bronze captains the side.
✨ Nusken starts in midfield.
⚽️ Beever-Jones leads the line. pic.twitter.com/UqcOttEta8
— Chelsea FC Women (@ChelseaFCW) September 5, 2026
Chelsea make four changes against Aston Villa
Bompastor has reshuffled the side that beat Real Sociedad 1-0 to secure a 6-2 aggregate Champions League victory.
Buurman replaces Naomi Girma in defence, while McCabe comes into the back line after Kadeisha Buchanan started in Spain.
Nusken replaces Lexi Potter in midfield, with Thompson coming into the attack in place of Sandy Baltimore.
Hannah Hampton remains in goal, while Ellie Carpenter and Bronze also retain their places in defence.
Keira Walsh and Wieke Kaptein continue in midfield, with Lauren James and Aggie Beever-Jones also starting again.
Erin Cuthbert absent after captain announcement
The notable absence remains Cuthbert.
Chelsea only confirmed the Scotland international as their new permanent captain on Friday, with Cuthbert succeeding Millie Bright as the club’s skipper.
However, she is not included in today’s squad as she continues her recovery from injury.
Bronze therefore wears the armband after being named one of Chelsea’s two vice-captains alongside Nathalie Bjorn.
Bjorn is also absent from the matchday squad.
Mayra Ramirez and Manaka Matsukubo were already confirmed unavailable, with Bompastor ruling both players out of the Aston Villa opener.
Chelsea Women XI vs Aston Villa
Chelsea: Hampton, Carpenter, Bronze (c), Buurman, McCabe, Walsh, Nusken, Kaptein, James, Thompson, Beever-Jones.
Substitutes: Peng, Spencer, Girma, Baltimore, Dragoni, Las, Hamano, Buchanan, Potter.
Chelsea kick off at 12:35pm BST at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea star inherits Millie Bright’s No.4 as squad numbers confirmed
Chelsea star inherits Millie Bright’s No.4 as squad numbers confirmed
Chelsea Women name Erin Cuthbert captain with Bronze and Björn as vice-captains
Chelsea Women name Erin Cuthbert captain with Bronze and Björn as vice-captains