Done deal: Chelsea loan out Super Falcons-eligible midfielder to Southampton

Through the club's official website, eight-time WSL champions Chelsea have confirmed that Super Falcons-eligible midfielder Ashanti Akpan will spend the forthcoming season on a season-long loan at Southampton.

This is her second loan spell in back-to-back seasons, having spent last campaign at Birmingham City, where she played fifteen games as the Blues narrowly missed out on promotion to the top-flight.

In June, Chelsea triggered a one-year extension on Akpan's contract following her loan spell at Birmingham City

Akpan trained with Chelsea's first team before her loan move, featuring in a 1-1 draw against Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands, where she came off the bench in the 85th minute.

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.

On the international stage, Akpan has represented England's Young Lionesses at U15, U16, U17, U18, U19 and U23 levels.

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

Photo Credit: southamptonfc.com

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