Matildas star Ellie Carpenter tied the knot with former Lyon team-mate Danielle van de Donk in France last month, but the pair are now reportedly set to become rivals on the footy pitch.
Carpenter, 25, is on the cusp of a move to join her Australia team-mate Sam Kerr at Chelsea and will leave Lyon during the off-season after having spent five years at the club, according to Channel 7.
It also comes as her new wife, Van de Donk, who has been at the footy club since 2021, is also moving to pastures new ahead of next season.
The former Arsenal midfielder is joining up with the London City Lionesses, meaning, should Carpenter’s reported move to the Blues go ahead, the pair will square off in the Women’s Super League next season.
The London City Lionesses were crowned victors of the Women’s Championship last season, earning themselves a spot in the WSL for the 2025-26 season.
Carpenter, meanwhile, has made 126 appearances for Lyon and has a year left on her current deal with the French outfit.
Ellie Carpenter (second from left) tied the knot with her Lyon teammate Danielle van de Donk (second from right) in June
But the footy couple are now set to become rivals on the pitch, as they are both set to leave Lyon
However, the right-back is expected to put pen to paper a three-year contract with the west London club.
It means she’ll reunite with former Lyon boss Sonia Bompastor for the new season, with the pair going on to win the Women’s Champions League together at the Premiere Ligue club in 2022.
Carpenter and Van de Donk are understood to have met when the Netherlands star, 33, joined up with the French outfit in 2021.
The pair went public on their relationship back in 2023 and announced their engagement on New Year’s Day in 2024.
Carpenter and Van de Donk tied the knot in a stunning ceremony at the Chateau Hermitage de Combas in southern France’s Servian region.
The pair published several pictures from the day on Instagram, with Carpenter writing: ‘I choose you. I will always choose you.’
Both footballers stunned in beautiful white gowns as they stood on the lawn of a luxurious French mansion.
Van de Donk’s gown was made by bridal gown brand Pronovias while Carpenter’s gown was made by Collingwood-based custom dress maker Mia Ateliers.
Carpenter (left) is reportedly set for a move to Chelsea to join up with Australia team-mate Sam Kerr (Van de Donk, pictured right)
Carpenter had a year left on her Lyon contract but is being backed to sign a three-year deal with the Blues
Van de Donk (pictured) has been named as part of Arjan Veurink’s Netherlands’ side
She called it ‘the dress of her dreams’.
‘The setting is so lush and green, it’s beautiful,’ Carpenter told Vogue.
‘It’s got this unique, elegant vibe but still feels grounded in love and who we are as a couple. Intimate, natural, and full of heart.’
Van de Donk, meanwhile, has been named in the Netherlands squad for this summer’s Women’s Euros, which kicks off today.
The Netherlands have a set of tough fixtures ahead of them too. They’ll first take on Wales on July 5 in Lucerne, Switzerland, before travelling to Zurich to play England. Their final group stage match comes on July 13 against France in Basel.
The Euros comes just as Van de Donk has agreed a deal to join London City, following three years at Lyon.
‘It’s just such a nice environment to be in, the club really appeals to me, it reminds me of a little family, and I want to be a part of it,” Van de Donk said.
‘The project that London City have, it’s different but in a good way. London City have to battle for everything and that’s my style.’
