SAM KERR left a few Chelsea fans in a panic after tricking some into believing she was set for a surprise summer Blues exit.
The WSL champions shared a spoof farewell video featuring the striker before revealing it was all in jest ahead of her new deal reveal.
Sam Kerr filmed a fake farewell to Chelsea fans before the club announced her two-year contract extension
Kerr’s pretend goodbye message had some supporters fearing she was calling time on her Chelsea career
GettyThe club went as far as installing a Samford Bridge sign outside Stamford Bridge in honour of the Australia striker[/caption]
GettyThe Chelsea striker, who is recovering from a knee ligament injury, described her new deal as a proud moment[/caption]
Kerr’s ‘goodbye’ message caused a stir on social media before the club announced her stay would be extended for a further two years.
The new deal reveal included Chelsea placing a Samford Bridge sign outside of Stamford Bridge in the Australia skipper’s honour.
The sign will remain outside the stadium’s Britannia Gate until this Sunday.
And the WSL side’s Kingsmeadow home has been temporarily renamed Kerrsmeadow.
In her prank goodbye video, Kerr, 30, who joined the club from Chicago Red Stars in November 2019, said: “I didn’t know how to have this conversation with you guys.
“I think it’s just best saying it. After four years, it’s really hard to sum up how I feel.
“My time at Chelsea has been unforgetable. Lots of great memories made, lifelong dreams winning trophies.
“Things that will stick with me the most will be the memories shared with fans and my team-mates.”
The video featured clips of Kerr’s trophy-winning moments with the striker also urging fans to give a warm welcome to new boss Sonia Bompastor.
She added: “I guess to the fans, just remember that I will always be Chelsea.
“I hope you welcome Sonia with open arms and keep supporting the girls.”
Kerr’s pretend exit prompted panic amongst a few Blues fans.
And some posted messages of disbelief at her supposed exit via social media.
One Chelsea fan jokingly admitted to almost crying at the idea of the striker leaving.
And another questioned if the club were “going mad”.
Yesterday sports reporters shared tweets regarding an announcement concerning the Blues vice-captain
And this prompted speculation online concerning Kerr’s future.
A few fans of Chelsea and their rivals on these shores and overseas took to social media platform X to share their thoughts regarding rumours.
While some WSL followers joked the club could be signing Kerr’s namesake from Bayern Munich, others wondered if she was off to pastures new.
A few supporters feared the striker, who is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, could be calling time on her Chelsea stint.
One tweeter wondered if football transfer guru Fabrizio Romano could shed light on Kerr’s future.
And another set up a poll with their followers voting on rival clubs the Matildas captain could possibly join.
However Australia’s all-time top scorer penned a new deal committing her future to the team who are due to do a pre-season tour of the USA in August.
Of her new contract, Kerr said: “It’s really exciting and a very proud moment for me.
“Having the opportunity to stay at a club like Chelsea means a lot to me.
“I’m really excited to continue to push and to try to win trophies.”
Kerr’s new contract comes five months after the striker ruptured a knee ligament during a warm weather training camp with the Blues in January.
Kerr is currently working her way back to fitness after sustaining an ACL injury in JanuaryGetty
Last term she netted nine goals across 12 WSL and Champions League games before being sidelined by an ACL injury.
The season before that the two-time Golden Boot winner notched up 29 goals for Chelsea in 30 appearances across all competitions.
Her current silverware wins include 10 major trophies with the Blues, including five successive WSL titles.