After shining at last year's U17 Euros and World Cup, the winger has since signed a pro deal with the Blues and made her Champions League debut
Winners of the last five Women’s Super League titles, a number almost certain to become six in the next few weeks, Chelsea have been England’s dominant force for the best part of the last decade, claiming 16 domestic titles since the start of the 2017-18 season. It’s fair to say that to be a part of the Blues’ squad, you need to have something special. That’s not just when it comes to talent, but also mentality. It is telling, then, that head coach Sonia Bompastor believes that Lola Brown, who is still just 17 years old, ticks those boxes already.
“I think she's one of the most talented young players for England and I'm really happy to work with her. She really has the right mentality,” the Chelsea boss said of Brown just last week. “I think you have this on yourself. If you don't have this mentality, it's really difficult to teach that to someone. You can make some progress, but if it's not inside yourself, it's more difficult. I think Lola has all this winning mentality, this ruthless mentality.”
Complemented by wonderful technical ability, a fierce work ethic and the ongoing opportunity to witness, first-hand, just what it takes to compete for an historic quadruple, it’s no wonder fans of Chelsea – and England – are so excited about the player Brown could become. Given the Blues’ emphasis on youth development, and Bompastor’s own history in excelling in that area, there’s even more reason to believe she’s on the right path.
Getty ImagesWhere it all began
Born in Malta, Brown moved to England when she was eight years old and joined the All Stars Soccer Academy in Eastbourne, on the south coast. The academy has helped to develop several of England’s most talented young players – boys and girls – since opening its doors in 2014, including Tayo Subuloye, the England youth international who is captain of Chelsea’s Under-16s, and Sophie Harwood, the Arsenal teen who helped the Young Lionesses reach the U17 Women’s World Cup semi-finals last year.
“We’re about trying to get players to the next level and then trying to get players the opportunity to move on. Lola is a great example of that,” Anthony Storey, the director of football at All Stars, told GOAL. “She came straight in with the boys, training three or four times a week, and she played in there. She's exceptional.”
Asked what made her stand out even at that young age, Storey does like Bompastor and points to some of the off-pitch qualities that those who have worked closely with the young winger seem to be bowled over by. “Just an amazing attitude, fantastic focus,” he replied. “She's always had really good balance. Exceptional all round, to be honest. Her attitude and willingness to learn is absolutely outstanding.”
AdvertisementChelsea FCThe big break
Brown’s move to that next level came in the 2019-20 season, when she joined Chelsea and started to play for the U12s. Her development within the youth teams was so impressive that after being named the women's academy's U18 Player of the Year for the 2023-24 campaign, she was bumped up into the first-team squad on a regular basis.
Following stand-out performances with England U17s in the summer, to reach the Euros final, and the autumn, to reach the World Cup semi-finals, Brown returned to Chelsea to sign her first professional contract in November, aged 17. Two days later, another milestone was hit in the Champions League group-stage fixture against Celtic, when the talented teenager made her first-team debut in an electric cameo from the bench.
Getty ImagesHow it's going
Now part of England’s U19s, whom she helped qualify for this summer’s Euros earlier this month, Brown has been involved with Chelsea’s first team ever since that debut earlier this season, regularly making the squad as the Blues’ quest for a quadruple continues.
The 17-year-old has only made one more appearance, that also in the Champions League, but that she is in and around the team consistently as they play these huge matches every few days is providing her with an invaluable experience.
“She's been around the team since the beginning of the season and I think she's learning about how to become a professional player,” Bompastor noted last week. “She already knows a lot about it and I think just watching the example coming from some leaders in the team is really good for her."
Getty ImagesBiggest strengths
It says a lot about how highly Bompastor rates Brown that she's been so regularly included in matchday squads at Chelsea this season. Goalkeeper Katie Cox is the only other academy prospect really getting those opportunities to be part of the game-day experience often.
It’s easy to see why the Blues’ boss is so taken by Brown, too. A quick and skilful winger who uses both feet brilliantly, and thus can be utilised on either flank, her final product is surprisingly efficient given her age and relatively limited experience at the top level. Brown spent her youth playing in the boys’ teams at the All Stars Soccer Academy and Storey believes that helped her to “make decisions quicker”, something that is certainly evident today, too.
The teenager’s off-ball movement to get into goal-scoring positions and her composure when on the receiving end of those chances also catches the key, while all the comments about her attitude and work ethic speak wonders of her character.
