Lyon head coach Sonia Bompastor will replace Emma Hayes as Chelsea manager at the end of the season, according to The Telegraph.

The newspaper claims that “a deal has been reached” with Lyon, allowing Bompastor to be released early from her contract at the French champions which expires next year.

Bompastor will be joined at the Blues by her assistant manager Camille Abily, with the pair set to take charge of first-team affairs once Hayes departs this summer.

Chelsea have been working hard to find a replacement since Hayes announced she was leaving back in November. It was subsequently confirmed that the 47-year-old was set to take the reins of the US Women’s National Team.

The Telegraph report Bompastor has been the Blues’ leading candidate to succeed Hayes for the last “several months” and they have finally secured their target.

What do Chelsea fans need to know about Bompastor?

The 43-year-old took the post as Lyon head coach back in 2021. She had previously spent two spells as a player with the Division 1 Feminine champions, as well as eight years managing the club’s academy.

Following her appointment as manager, Bompastor won two consecutive French championships, one French Cup, two French Super Cups as well as the Champions League in 2022, beating Barcelona 3-1 in the final.

Lyon are currently on course for their third consecutive league title under Bompastor’s management, with her side having won 18 of their 19 matches so far this campaign.

Bompastor could face her future club

Both Lyon and Chelsea could yet meet in the final of the Champions League. The two sides have managed to avoid each other in the semi-finals, with the Blues taking on Barcelona while Lyon face French rivals Paris Saint-Germain.

However, if they make it through their ties, the two teams will face each other at the San Mames on May 25th.

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