Big Fish Leaves Chelsea: Mia Fishel Returns to the U.S. with Seattle Reign After Injury-Hit Spell

Big Fish has swum back over the Pond after two years at Chelsea.

Mia Fishel joined Chelsea from Mexican side Tigris at the start of the 2023/24 season and made an instant impact, heading in our first goal on her debut during the 2-1 opening-day win over Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

She added further goals in the Women’s FA Cup and Women’s Champions League to that Women’s Super League strike, before her campaign was cut short by injury in February.

Her ACL injury came a month after fellow forward Sam Kerr did hers, which put Chelsea in a crisis and led them to sign Mayra Ramirez.

After over a year out, she returned for Chelsea in March as she came off the bench in a WSL match where Chelsea faced Manchester City four times in 12 days.

Since then, she has made three WSL appearances and scored in a 4-0 victory against Crystal Palace.

She leaves Chelsea with back-to-back WSL Champions, a treble winner, and four goals in 21 appearances.

Injury hampered her two years at Chelsea, and she is likely to find more game time elsewhere.

“Chelsea is different. There’s a bunch of stars so that it can be very individualistic,” Fishel said.

She signed for Seattle Reign through 2029, making her the club's longest-contracted player.

“Mia is a player with tremendous upside — a goalscorer with presence, creativity and a drive to keep growing,” said Seattle Reign general manager Lesle Gallimore. “This move represents an important step in her return to top form, and we’re committed to giving her the environment and support to thrive.”

While in Mexico, she scored 17 goals and contributed to the team's title-winning campaign that year.

“I’ve always just wanted the best for myself, and I didn’t care what other people thought,” Fishel said.

“That mindset has taken me places some players may not be as comfortable with. I’m the type of player who, if you sit me down and I listen to how you think of me, how I fit in your system, living situation, lifestyle, and check all the boxes, I will go there. That’s what Tigres did for me.”