West London just lost a flat out baller.
This exit was almost a foregone conclusion. Jelena Cankovic's time at Chelsea FC Women has been winding down for some time. On Friday, it all became a reality as the Serbian midfielder joined Women's Super League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion, with one year left on her contract with the West Londoners.
She'll link back up with former Chelsea teammate Fran Kirby, who signed on a free transfer with the Seagulls in early July following nine years as a Blue. Cankovic becomes the fifth CFCW player this summer to depart West London for another English club.
We're now just awaiting answers from the club regarding the futures of three players absent from the USA Tour squad: Cerys Brown, Emily Orman and Brooke Aspin.
“We’re delighted to bring a player of Jelena’s pedigree and experience to the club," said Brighton's new women's first-team coach Dario Vidosic, a former Australian international.
“She has already achieved so much in her career but is ready for a new chapter and excited by this challenge. Her experience and knowledge will be important in helping our squad grow and I am looking forward to working with her.”
The four-time Serbian Women's Super League champion moves south, potentially seeking more playing time than she received while in Chelsea blue. Across two seasons, Cankovic tallied four goals and 11 assists in 38 total matches across all competitions.
Catarina Macario was the only CFCW player with more assists per 90 minutes than Cankovic during the last WSL campaign.
Her first season is what she'll be remembered for though. From the match-tying assist at the Emirates to her exceptional display at Aston Villa in Matchweek 17, Cankovic had her moments in London despite seeing her time cut short earlier than originally intended. What about that breakout performance in the snow against Reading? You can't forget that. I'll be telling the story of that match for quite some time, especially as someone who was in the stands at Kingsmeadow that night.
On the ball, her bag of tricks is bottomless. The Serbian's flare, top-class vision and decisiveness were all on display in a rotational role under Emma Hayes.
Welcome to the Albion, Jelena! 🤩💫 pic.twitter.com/rOMsAa1Hc4
— Brighton & Hove Albion Women (@BHAFCWomen) August 23, 2024
After finishing outside the WSL's top eight for two consecutive seasons, the East Sussex outfit's signing of Cankovic further underscores the club's ambitions. A top-six finish is a real possibility despite seeing its two top scorers from the most recent campaign depart in the span of a month.
So far, in addition to obtaining the services of the Serbian and Kirby, the Seagulls brought in Japanese international Kiko Seike, Aisha Masaka and 24-year-old Bex Rayner from Sheffield United among others. The incoming attacking creativity doesn't stop there. Per Esport3, Bruna Vilamala, the Barcelona winger and three-time UEFA Women's Champions League winner, is set to join the seaside club on loan.
Brighton has always been a thorn in CFCW's side but now we're definitely going to put a star next to these clashes going forward. It has done quite an extraordinary job replacing Elisabeth Terland and Katie Robinson -- two talents who combined for over 60 percent of the Seagulls' league goals throughout 2023/24.
Brighton adds yet another quality midfielder this summer from Chelsea in Cankovic
A player of Cankovic's caliber deserves a consistent role. Vidosic will provide it for her. She'll likely slot into an advanced attacking midfield position in East Sussex, linking up with former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Vicky Losada to craft a large chunk of Brighton's chances.
The five-foot-four left-footed metronome won two WSL titles and an FA Cup with the Blues, bringing her top-flight domestic trophy case to 18 since she began her career with Spartak Subotica.
No. 28, it was a pleasure. From all of us here at the PoL, thank you for your contributions to Chelsea FC Women. Go smash it as a Seagull (but not against your former club please).