Chelsea midfielder Leupolz moves to Real Madrid

Midfielder Melanie Leupolz has left Women's Super League side Chelsea and joined Real Madrid.

Leupolz, 30, departs following a four-year spell with the 2023-24 WSL winners.

She made 11 league appearances and nine starts last term as Chelsea went on to win the league and FA Cup.

The German, who joined from Bayern Munich in March 2020, reached the Champions League final in her first season and won three trophies before going on maternity leave and giving birth to her first child in October 2022.

The midfielder returned to action in March 2023 and featured in seven games that season.

She was part of Germany's squad at that summer's Women's World Cup, retiring from international football after the tournament.