Sam Kerr made her first start for Chelsea in 692 days in the Champions League on 20 December, scoring in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over BK Hacken. It was a moment supporters had waited almost two years to see again.
Her long absence began in January 2024 when she tore her ACL during a training camp in Morocco. From the moment the injury happened, her recovery became one of the most discussed topics in women's football, especially as fans questioned why it was taking nearly 20 months when many players return around the one-year mark.
It has since become clear that her recovery was far more complicated than initially believed. Kerr revealed she had been in pain for 10 months, experiencing what she described as dark days because of an issue with the surgical graft that repaired her knee. Despite repeatedly reporting pain to doctors, scans were not showing anything wrong, leaving specialists confused.
Back in October, she said: "I just had an issue with my graft, but nothing was showing up on the MRI, it was just a mystery. I had pain for 10 months, and not that no one believed me, but I was saying I was in pain, and everyone was like, we can’t see anything. And I was, but I’m in pain. So then I had to get surgery on it and it was all fixed."
She also explained: "I struggled a little bit in the first nine months with a few setbacks and there were a few times there where I was like, gosh, I don’t know if this will ever go away. But I’ve always had that burning desire, and I’ve had a lot of good people around me that have pushed me to keep going, specifically my partner Kristie Mewis."
There have been unconfirmed reports of tensions during her recovery. One rumour suggested an orthopaedic surgeon initially refused to perform the ACL surgery until she could bend her knee properly but that the club pushed for surgery to go ahead anyway. There were also rumours that she underwent multiple procedures across her recovery period, which may explain why it took so long.
By December 2024, a full year after her last appearance for Chelsea, she still was not ready. Fans were hopeful in March 2025 when she was included in Chelsea's Champions League squad, but she did not play a single minute. She was also left out of the Matildas squad in June 2025 and did not feature under Sonia Bompastor until later that year.
Her official return began when she came on as a substitute away at Aston Villa, scoring her 100th Chelsea goal. It was a milestone she had wanted to reach since 2023. Her comeback was met with huge admiration inside the club. Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton said to Sky Sports: "It's almost as if we have got an extra signing with her back. It's a big help for us going forward."
Kerr then made her first start for Chelsea nearly two years after her last one, playing a full 90 minutes and scoring twice in the 6-0 Champions League win against St Polten. She could have scored more and looked increasingly sharp and confident. Speaking after the match, she told Disney+: "It feels good. It felt like I had to work myself into it but yeah, happy to score. Of course, I prefer to play more minutes. When you come on for 20 minutes it's a bit hectic, there's lots of subs and it can be a bit wishy-washy. I feel like today was good. I had a few chances in the first half. I'm just happy to be back out here playing in the Champions League again, with an amazing team. I'm relishing every moment."
She admitted the feeling of scoring again felt strange: "It feels a bit sweeter but it feels a bit weird. I didn't score for so long that I was like I haven't celebrated, really. I haven't got that celebration thing yet. I've got to score a few more."
Kerr also explained that while she feels fully recovered, she still needs to rebuild match rhythm: "I feel 100 percent but I was out for a while, so I have to build myself up. I'm definitely fit enough, it's just about getting miles in the legs now. I'm ready to go."
Her return comes at an important moment for Chelsea as they prepare to face Barcelona again in the Champions League for the fifth consecutive season.
Off the pitch, Kerr is out of contract in the summer. If she does not sign a new deal with Chelsea by January, she will be allowed to speak to other clubs. Now that she and her partner have a son, they may want to move closer to family on either side.
On the international stage, Kerr returned to the Matildas during the October international break, with both club and country working carefully to support her safe return. She is hopeful of being part of Australia's squad for the Asian Cup, where their first game will be against the Philippines on 1 March in Perth, her home city. Her absence, and the absence of several other top players competing in the tournament, will be felt across the WSL.
Her journey back has been defined by setbacks, mystery, frustration and determination. Now, after 692 days, Sam Kerr is finally back where she belongs: starting games, scoring goals and getting stronger each week.
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