Super Falcons-eligible midfielder named in Chelsea's travelling squad for Netherlands camp

Chelsea have named a 26-player travelling party for a six-day pre-season training camp in the Netherlands, according to the club’s official website. 

The trip will allow manager Sonia Bompastor to step up preparations for the 2025-2026 campaign.

Super Falcons-eligible midfielder Ashanti Akpan is among the nine midfielders included in the squad. 

The England youth international of Nigerian descent could feature on Sunday when the Women’s Super League champions face Ajax Amsterdam at Sportcomplex de Toekomst, with kickoff at 2pm local time.

In June, Chelsea triggered a one-year extension on Akpan’s contract following her loan spell at Birmingham City, where she made 15 appearances last season.

The 19-year-old, also eligible for Poland through her mother, has been with Chelsea since the age of seven, progressing through the academy to make her senior debut in a 3-1 FA Cup quarter-final win over Reading on March 19, 2023. 

She first featured in a senior matchday squad at just 16, as an unused substitute in a Champions League tie against Real Madrid.

Akpan has collected silverware at youth level, including the FA Youth Cup in 2021-2022 and the FA WSL Academy Cup in 2022-2023.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com