Southampton FC Women have secured the services of 19-year-old midfielder Ashanti Akpan on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
The England U23 international, who is eligible to represent Nigeria through her father, joins the Saints after spending the previous season on loan at Birmingham City in the Women’s Championship. During her time at Birmingham, Akpan made 15 appearances, contributing to the team’s second-place finish in the league.
Read Also: Nigerian Teen Chizzy Ezenwata Stars as Chelsea U18s Beat Crystal Palace 4–2
Akpan began her football journey at Chelsea’s academy at the age of seven, progressing through the ranks to make her senior debut in March 2023.
She signed her first professional contract with Chelsea in December 2023.
Her move to Southampton marks her second consecutive loan spell in the Women’s Championship, reflecting her continued development and the opportunity to gain valuable first-team experience.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming season, Akpan stated,
“I’m really excited for the season ahead. I feel like another season in the [second tier] will do me a lot of good and allow me to improve a lot as a player. I’m really excited to play in front of the fans at St Mary’s; it will be nice to hear the crowd behind us because I think the support throughout the season will be really important for us.”
Southampton FC Women have also strengthened their squad with the addition of midfielder Michaela McAlonie, further bolstering their midfield options for the upcoming season.
With Akpan’s technical skills, vision, and experience, she is expected to make a significant impact at Southampton, contributing to the team’s aspirations in the Women’s Championship.
