OL Lyonnes defender Ellie Carpenter is reportedly attracting interest from both English and Spanish clubs this summer. According to [Le Parisien](https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/football/mercato-feminin-lyon-pense-aussi-a-ashley-lawrence-03-06-2025-U4K3CI62R5DTFKSNF3X2MWRGPY.php), Chelsea has identified the Australian international as a potential acquisition. However, OL Lyonnes is seeking a player in return—Canadian international Ashley Lawrence.
Ashley Lawrence is no stranger to French football, having spent six years with Paris Saint-Germain. The versatile full-back joined Chelsea in 2023 and is under contract until 2026. During the 2024/25 season, she made over 30 appearances and scored two goals.
Lawrence would not be the first former PSG player to join OL Lyonnes this summer. Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Korbin Albert (Le Parisien) are also reportedly set to make the move.
Carpenter began her professional career with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2015, starting all twelve games in her debut season. Two years later, she joined Canberra United for two seasons before moving to the NWSL, signing with the Portland Thorns. She made history on her debut on May 9, 2018, becoming the youngest player in NWSL history.
Carpenter later returned to Australia on loan to play for Melbourne City before signing with OL Lyonnes in 2020. Though she needed time to find her place during her first season, she has since become a key part of Lyonnes’ defensive lineup. [Carpenter](https://womenfootball.blog/ellie-carpenter-on-english-and-spanish-radars/) has a contract that runs until June 2026.
In 2022, she suffered an ACL injury that sidelined her for several months. Reflecting on the experience, she said:
“Getting injured was a blessing in disguise,” Carpenter said. “The World Cup was in July, so I knew I had over a year to recover. I felt confident in myself to be able to come back, but you just never know, anything can happen, so I wanted to get surgery straightaway.
“I think this injury is the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I needed this time and this break. A forced break, not one that I would’ve wanted.”