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Breaking down each loanee from Chelsea Women’s extensive loan army

By Caden Charpentier

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 2: Renate Jansen of FC Twente Women celebrates 1-3 with Wieke Kaptein of FC Twente Women during the EURO match between Ajax v Fc Twente at the De Toekomst on September 2, 2023 in Amsterdam Netherlands (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - SEPTEMBER 2: Renate Jansen of FC Twente Women celebrates 1-3 with Wieke Kaptein of FC Twente Women during the EURO match between Ajax v Fc Twente at the De Toekomst on September 2, 2023 in Amsterdam Netherlands (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea
Chelsea’s Reanna Blades (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the pre-season friendly women’s football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at The Emirates Stadium in north London on August 1, 2021 (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

Reanna Blades

Club: Lewes

Academy standout Reanna Blades has followed in the footsteps of Emma Thompson and Wardlaw, moving south to Lewes on loan. 14 goals in 22 games at the academy level tells you all you need to know. Championship football is challenging, but it has been clear since she signed that professional contract last October, an increase in difficulty is required for her growth.

Blades has made two appearances off the bench for Scott Booth’s team as the Rooks have struggled out of the gate. Paul Green and Hayes are massive fans of Blades’ pace, and athleticism, something she showed in a pre-season fixture a few years ago against Arsenal. The beginning of her loan has been rocky, but the hope is she earns more chances as the Championship progresses. On tap for the east Sussex side this week is Sheffield United, another team sitting on one point through three contests.

Nicky Evrard

Club: Brighton and Hove Albion

It took a while, but the decision on the No. 3 keeper has been made. Hannah Hampton is in. The Belgian Nicky Evrard will feature for Melissa Phillips’ Brighton and Hove Albion. Evrard received the chance in pre-season to meet her new team, heading off to Portugal with the Blues before her loan move. Evrard was one of two goalkeepers to join the Seagulls on deadline day as Sophie Baggaley added even more depth between the posts.

The 28-year-old standout from the 2022 European championships hopes to help a club that conceded 63 goals to lead the English top-flight last season. The former OH Leuven No. 1 has her eyes on Brighton’s No. 1 spot. The goalkeeping situation in west London is as confusing as it gets in football. Evrard just needs minutes in a top league. With this being potentially Berger’s last campaign for Chelsea, a spot will be open in August 2024 for the Belgian to potentially take.

Lucy Watson

Club: Crystal Palace

Just when the fans of the west London outfit thought Hayes was finished, another move was made. Former Sheffield United forward Lucy Watson is back on the pitch, prepared for a potential role in an attacking unit. The 19-year-old went out to Charlton Athletic after signing from Sheffield last summer but was forced to return to Cobham when she suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in August. Since, The youngster goes back to the Women’s Championship, joining Lexi Potter in south London at a club that is sitting at the top of the table following a 9-1 triumph over Durham.

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The hope is that the former Blade will receive regular minutes with the Eagles as she slowly progresses back to the pace of senior football in England. Before she moved south for the campaign, Watson put pen to paper on a deal until 2025. Breaking into the rotation offensively at the west London side, but if she has the kind of season she did in the north of England two years ago, Hayes should feel a chance a warranted.

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