Brighton have completed the signing of England international Fran Kirby on a free transfer.
The 31-year-old joins the club after her contract with Women’s Super League (WSL) champions Chelsea expired.“I wanted to stay in the league and still be part of the growth,” said Kirby who will join up with former Chelsea team-mate Maria Thorisdottir. “I asked her about the club, it was a really exciting conversation in terms of the club’s ambitions.
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“Hopefully I’m able to help those (new signings) coming into the WSL for the first time or those who have been here. It was (about) feeling valued and wanted at a club. That’s all I wanted.”
Kirby, who is widely considered one of England’s greatest female players, won five consecutive WSL titles with Chelsea before announcing her departure in May after a nine-year stint at the west London side.
She joined Chelsea from Reading in 2015 and went on to score 63 goals in 114 WSL appearances for the club.
When asked about the possibility of facing her former club, Kirby said: “It would be really weird. I’ve had some amazing memories at that football club and they’ve helped me achieve things that I could never have dreamt of doing when I first joined the club.”
Kirby was instrumental in Chelsea’s recent domestic success, securing 15 major trophies over her nine years. Her accolades include six WSL titles and a Champions League final appearance in 2021.
Kirby missed most of the 2019-20 season due to pericarditis, a heart condition. Her appearances in the 2022-23 season were limited by a knee injury, but she featured in 21 WSL matches last season.
On the international stage, Kirby has been a standout for England, scoring 19 goals in 72 caps for the Lionesses. She played in every match at the European Championship, netting two goals as England lifted the trophy, but missed out on the 2023 World Cup as she required surgery on her knee.
GO DEEPER
Fran Kirby is part of Chelsea's fabric. Her departure marks the end of a most glorious era
(Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
