Rachel’s eager to welcome these footballers (7)

I believe the answer is:

chelsea

'footballers' is the definition.
(Chelsea football club)

'rachel's eager to welcome these' is the wordplay.
'to welcome these' indicates a hidden word (letters welcomed into the clue).
'CHELSEA' is hidden in the letters of 'rachels eager'.

(Other definitions for chelsea that I've seen before include "West London area" , "issue for Clintons" , "Bun, pensioner or flower-show" , "District of London (with famous pensioners)" , "Part of Manhattan" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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