Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa are all interested in signing North Carolina Courage midfielder Denise O’Sullivan, according to the Daily Mail journalist Kathryn Batte.
The Republic of Ireland international has been capped 109 times by her country, but she has also had a great deal of success at club level in the United States.
O’Sullivan’s contract expires at the end of next year and teams in Europe are hoping to bring her back to the continent during the January transfer window.
In addition to the three Women’s Super League clubs already mentioned, it is believed that Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon are looking to recruit the 29-year-old.
Sullivan has had a very successful time in the United States
While the midfielder‘s first foray into North America with Houston Dash didn’t quite work out, she began to make a name for herself after joining the Courage in 2017.
During her six-year stay in North Carolina, Sullivan has racked up two NWSL Championship wins, two Challenge Cups and three NWSL Shields. Her team also finished third in the table this season.
Interest from Chelsea and other high-profile clubs is not surprising
Sullivan has a reputation as an outstanding playmaker, being able to dictate the tempo of the game with her passing in the middle of the park. When she made a temporary move to Brighton during the pandemic, her previous head coach at North Carolina Courage Paul Riley was very complimentary about her abilities:
“She is the first player on the team sheet every week in Courage Country and she has left an indelible mark on our younger players through her training habits, game preparation rituals and her magical mindset which sets her apart from most professional players.”
“Brighton will be a great home for her and we wish her all the best for her loan club and country as she continues to identify herself as one of the most gifted and complete midfielders in world soccer.”
