Top 10 Chelsea Women players of the Emma Hayes era

2. Fran Kirby

“Super” Fran Kirby. What more is there to say about a player who has given everything on and off the pitch since her introduction from Reading in 2015? Whenever the Chelsea Women need a jolt on the pitch, Kirby brings it. She has been a fan favorite since the beginning. From her cold-blooded look of black gloves in the cold to her awareness near the frame of the goal, Kirby has been one of the most important, and iconic players in the history of the club.

Since the 2017 season, Kirby has scored 51 league goals in just 57 starts, shining through during the 2020-21 campaign when the English international netted 16 goals to go along with a prolific 11 assists.

She is in the 95th percentile in progressive passes for attacking midfielders, acting as the orchestrator for the Blues since the beginning of Hayes’ successes. Kirby was a critical part of the Blues’ first WSL title, and just a few games later, the English midfielder scored the first of what would be many Champions League goals in the history of Chelsea Women. Unlike a few of these players on the list, Kirby can continue to add to her legend in west London, but for now, she is safely at the No. 2 spot.