Julia Bartel is set to leave Chelsea for Juventus, with the Italian club expected to finalise the deal within the next few days. The Spain youth international has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at Chelsea and is now poised to make a fresh start in Serie A.

A Chelsea spell that never really got started

Bartel arrived at Chelsea from Barcelona in July 2024 on a three-year deal — with an option for a fourth — carrying considerable promise as a technically accomplished central midfielder. But the noises out of Stamford Bridge throughout her time there told the same story: she simply could not force her way into the starting picture. In two years with the club, she managed just two appearances, a return that made a permanent departure feel inevitable.

Rather than sit idle, Bartel kept herself sharp through loan moves. A six-month stint at Liverpool in 2025 was followed by a full season on loan at Atletico Madrid, where she finally found consistent minutes. She made 43 appearances in Spain, scored six goals and started 15 Liga F matches — a body of work that appears to have attracted Serie A interest.

Filling the Walti void at Juventus

Juventus have a specific vacancy to fill. Switzerland international Lia Walti, a composed, experienced presence in their midfield, joined Brighton earlier this month, leaving the Turin club with a clear need for reinforcement in that area. Bartel's profile — energetic, technically sound and still only 22 — fits the brief the club are working to.

Juventus finished third in Serie A last season and were eliminated from the Women's Champions League at the knockout stage play-offs by Wolfsburg. They will be looking to push closer to the summit of Italian women's football next term, and bringing in a player with top-flight experience in both Spain and England represents a clear statement of intent.

What next for Bartel?

For Bartel, the move represents a genuine opportunity to establish herself at a major European club. Her loan spell at Atletico demonstrated she can contribute at a high level when given a run of games, and Juventus are a club with the infrastructure and ambition to develop a player of her age further.

The deal is expected to be wrapped up imminently, with Chelsea effectively drawing a line under an association that never fulfilled its early promise for either party. At 22, Bartel has plenty of time to rebuild — and Turin looks like the right place to do it.

Frequently asked

Why is Julia Bartel leaving Chelsea?
Bartel made just two appearances for Chelsea across two years at the club, meaning a permanent exit made sense for both parties. She spent time on loan at Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in search of regular game time.
Who is Bartel replacing at Juventus?
Bartel is set to fill the gap left by Lia Walti, the Switzerland international who left Juventus to join Brighton earlier this summer.
What did Julia Bartel do on loan at Atletico Madrid?
During her loan spell at Atletico Madrid last season, Bartel made 43 appearances, scored six goals and started 15 Liga F matches.