After more than 18 months of waiting for news, we finally have some news on Sam Kerr and her return to the Matildas, and football more generally.
The latest came from Sonia Bompaster, Chelsea coach, who said in a press conference: "Sam Kerr is in the squad so she will be involved in the game [against Manchester city]. We don't know if she will start or not, but she's in the squad. She's in a good place."
And a few months ago, the striker and all-time leading Australian international scorer was spotted training with the team in Perth across the June/July 2025 four-game friendlies set against Slovenia and Panama. It's a promising sign that she could return to the team sooner than we think.
Following the news of her ruptured ACL, it was speculated that it could be six to 12 months before she could return to the soccer pitch. But it's now been more than 18 months and there is a reason for the delay. It was revealed by Matildas' coach Joe Montemurro that Sam actually had undergone a second surgery during her recovery period, which is what bumped out the timeline. Although, the second surgery was not related to her existing injury.
We did receive some false hope about her potential reappearance late in 2024, when Bompastor has said we'd get some glimpses of Kerr back in games around February and March of 2025. About 13-14 months following the onset of her injury.
“I would say Sam we are looking to maybe have back with us February, March, not before that,” Sona Bompastor said.
“She didn’t start yet to train, even being modified with the group, so she’s still on her individual process rehab and I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad.” Several sources also cited that she will be back playing within a month from mid-February. But alas, this did not materialise.
When the news that Sam Kerr has ruptured her ACL during a training camp in Morocco reached Australia, you could almost feel the entire country collectively groan.
Following possibly the most exciting Womens FIFA World Cup we've ever seen, Australia had its eye firmly set on the 2024 Olympics – and our golden Matildas who seemed primed for a medal. Then, we were hit with devastating news that the best striker in the world (imo) would no longer be able to play.
Since that time, football fans everywhere have been waiting to hear when Kerr would be medically cleared to get back on the field for Australia - and also for her WSL club team, Chelsea.
ACL tears are a 12-month injury – others who come back earlier are just lucky
Many of us (me) held faint glimpses of hope that Kerr could potentially make an appearance at the Paris Olympics, citing that some players recover from ACL tears in just six months. The Matildas' Ellie Carpenter recovered from hers in just nine months, managing to make it onto the 2023 FIFA World Cup squad.
But Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni confirmed that Sam's injury was not a small one.
“Things are getting a little bit better in rehab, but in reality it’s still probably a 12-month injury, and Sam’s taking that time to come back to ensure that hopefully, when she comes back, she’s going to be completely fit and healthy," Sermanni said.
He also said: “Her rehab is going really, really, really well.”
The sentiment was echoed by Tameka Yallop, following the friendly match against Chinese Taipei aka Taiwan on 7 December 2024.
“Everyone feels for Sam and we are all right there supporting her with her recovery and it’s important for her to be 100 percent before she comes back,” she said.
“We want her for the long-term, not the short-term," she added. “We are supporting her through it, and she remains a major part of the team.”
Once she is finally back and playing again, fans will have plenty of opportunities to watch her in action, with no sign of an early retirement. Kerr resigned to her WSL club Chelsea in 2024, committing to play with them until June-August 2026. With any luck we'll get to see her in action during the 2026 Asian Cup, which will be hosted in cities across Australia.
In more Sam Kerr news, the star striker recently announced that she and partner Kristy Mewis welcomed their first baby, Jagger. Kristy, who was a star of the NWSL's Gotham FC, made the move to the WSL to play for West Ham in 2024. She since announced that she would be leaving West Ham, with her full focus placed on being a mum for now.
For more Matildas, head to our guide on the next Matildas' games and where to watch.
