Chelsea Women: How did the Blues’ loanees across England fare this season?
Of the seven loanees that departed west London this past season for the Chelsea Women, five of them remained in England, how did each of them fare?
Jorja Fox
Club: Brighton and Hove Albion
After scoring two goals across 23 matches in all competitions on the south coast, Jorja Fox encountered a massive setback. Just like Lucy Watson, Fox had to return from her loan early due to the same injury that has run rampant across women’s football recently. The young defender was substituted off against West Ham United on May 7 after 44 minutes due to what was discovered to be a torn ACL.
For someone that was just getting her career up and running in the Women’s Super League, it is tough to see Fox be hampered by the ACL epidemic within women’s football. Prior to going out on a season long loan, the English youth international penned a three-year deal with the west Londoners.
Despite the demoralizing conclusion to the season, Fox was one of 12 players to contribute more than 1,000 minutes for the Seagulls throughout the 2022/23 WSL campaign. 12 of the 16 league games in which she played a part in were starts. In just 22 minutes against the Irons back in November, Fox found the back of the net for the fifth and final goal that night for the Seagulls. In late January against West Bromwich Albion WFC in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Fox would play all 90 minutes and score a quality goal in stoppage time.
Jorja Fox’s goal for Brighton this past weekend. Love her willingness to continue the run, and what about that finish! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/DInjMiDpkF
— Chelsea Women Loan Army (@CFCWLoanArmy) February 1, 2023
Even with the managerial turnover on the south coast this past season, Fox pieced together plenty of positive moments before going down just weeks before the final match week. The Chelsea Women’s Academy standout finished fourth on the team in total interceptions in the league.
If it was not for the injury to her ACL, this loan would have been considered a step in the right direction. Who knows with ACLs when she will be back on the pitch, but the hope is her rehab allows her to play at least half of next season. Fox’s youth allows her to go out on another top-flight loan, and if a spot opens up in west London, she could very well challenge for it down the line.