Full Breakdown
Julia Bartel Nears Juventus Transfer After Limited Chelsea Tenure
7/8/2026, 2:11:19 PM
Transfer to Juventus Confirmed
Chelsea midfielder Julia Bartel, a 22-year-old Spain youth international, is expected to finalize a move to Italian club Juventus in the next few days. The transfer will see her replace midfielder Lia Walti, who joined Brighton earlier this month.
Career Background and Recent Loan Spells
Bartel transferred from Barcelona to Chelsea in July 2024, signing a three-year contract with an optional fourth year. Over the 2024-25 and 2025-26 periods she made only two senior appearances for Chelsea, indicating limited integration into the first-team squad. In 2025 she completed a six-month loan at Liverpool, gaining exposure to the English Women’s Super League, though specific appearance figures were not disclosed. She then spent the 2025-26 season on loan at Atletico Madrid, where she logged 43 Liga F appearances, scored six goals and started 15 matches, providing her most sustained first-team experience to date.
Chronology of Moves
July 2024 – Bartel moves from Barcelona to Chelsea on a three-year deal with an optional fourth year.
2024-25 season – Records two senior appearances for Chelsea, reflecting limited playing time.
2025 – Completes a six-month loan at Liverpool, gaining experience in the English league.
2025-26 season – Plays a full season on loan at Atletico Madrid, accumulating 43 appearances, six goals and 15 starts in Liga F.
Summer (upcoming) – Transfer to Juventus is expected to be finalized within days, filling the midfield vacancy left by Lia Walti’s departure to Brighton.
Performance Metrics
During her loan at Atletico Madrid Bartel featured in 43 matches, scored six goals and started 15 Liga F games, averaging a goal roughly every seven appearances. Juventus concluded the previous Serie A campaign in third place and were eliminated in the Women’s Champions League knockout-stage play-offs by Wolfsburg, underscoring a strong domestic showing but a premature exit from European competition.
Implications for Juventus
Bartel’s arrival directly addresses the midfield vacancy created by Lia Walti’s move to Brighton, providing Juventus with a player who has recent top-flight experience in both the English and Spanish leagues. Strengthening the midfield aligns with Juventus’s objective to improve on a third-place Serie A finish and to progress further in the Women’s Champions League after a knockout-stage exit. The signing also signals Juventus’s active participation in the summer transfer market to fill identified squad gaps.
Future Outlook
The transfer is slated for completion within days, allowing Bartel to join Juventus ahead of pre-season preparations. Juventus will integrate her into the squad as they target a higher league standing and a deeper Champions League run. Chelsea, having utilized Bartel sparingly, will need to re-evaluate its midfield options as it prepares for the next campaign.
