Guru Ritten: The Norwegian winger leaves Chelsea after 13 titles

Guru Ritten left Chelsea after winning 13 trophies in six years to join US club Gotham.

The winger, who joined the Blues in 2019 from LSK Kvener in her native Norway, has won the Women’s Super League title in each of her six seasons at the club.

Ritten also won four FA Cups and three League Cups, scoring 59 goals in 207 appearances.

“Everything has an end and this is my end here at Chelsea,” Ritten (31 years old) said while crying in a video clip posted on the Chelsea website.

“I still remember Emma [Hayes] He called me six and a half years ago and convinced me to join the club and I was terrified. Scared that I wasn’t good enough, scared of being away from my family.

“I didn’t know I was going to have a new family here because it’s all about the people and the people who have been on this journey with me.”

Despite being a mainstay in Hayes’ winning side, Reiten’s playing time has been limited under Sonia Bombastor, who took over in May 2024, and she has made just three starts in the Women’s Football League this season.

The club said: “Everyone at Chelsea would like to sincerely thank Goro for her significant contributions to our success over the past six and a half years, and we wish her well during the next chapter of her career in the United States.”

Six-time defending champion Chelsea are set to lose the Premier League title this season, trailing league leaders Manchester City by nine points with just six games remaining.

Ritten joins Gotham on loan until her Chelsea contract expires in July, after which she will sign a contract until 2029 with the National Women’s Football League side.

“Guru is a player of exceptional quality who consistently performs at the highest levels of the game,” said Yael Averbuch West, Gotham’s general manager and head of football operations.