BETHANY ENGLAND is relishing the challenge of helping Tottenham attempt to fulfil their ambitions after calling time on her seven-year Chelsea spell.
The Lionesses striker’s stunning Spurs move, reported to be for a fee of around £250,000, is thought to have seen her become the WSL’s most expensive British player.
Today the Blues confirmed England, 28, who has made more than 150 appearances for the Kingsmeadow giants, would be departing for their London rivals.
Her move sees her become the second Chelsea star in the past seven months to seal a Tottenham transfer with former Blues ace Drew Spence joining Spurs last June.
And the WSL star is determined to help her new club and boss Rehanne Skinner to reach new heights.
England said: “I’m excited to get going and the club’s got a lot of ambition so I’m hoping that I can add to that and hopefully get the club where it wants to be.
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“When you look at the facilities that you’ve got, it’s coming up.
“In the women’s game there’s not many teams that have got such great facilities to start with and speaking with Rehanne – she has been a big part in this.
“Her drive and what she wants to achieve out of this club (shows) she has got great aspirations like myself.
“The club has got a nice homely feel and it makes me want to come and do a great job here.”
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Skinner’s side, who take on Aston Villa in their first game of 2023, have at times struggled with finding the back of the net this term.
This is despite the team smashing eight goals past Brighton at the end of October in one of their biggest ever top tier match wins.
However Spurs, who are currently eighth after losing six of their first nine WSL matches this term, have scored just once in their last four games across all competitions.
And that goal, netted by Nikola Karczewska, came during a 1-0 defeat of Championship outfit Southampton in a Continental Cup group stage game in December.
Reflecting on her North London switch, England added: “Moving from the other side of London is again very different for me but it’s an amazing chapter for me.
“Hopefully I can bring a lot of goals to the club, my experience and just a bit of leadership in the front line, and I am quite driven, I’m quite a strong person and can be a loud character.
“I do want to do my best and I’m extremely competitive even in a game of cards or bingo.
“I have no doubt they’ll figure that out quite quickly.
“I’m not shy about saying how I feel about making sure everyone’s achieving the same goal and wants the same things.”
In England, Tottenham, who finished fifth last term, have acquired one of the most clinical finishers in the WSL in recent years.
Her move comes a week after the Daily Mail reported the striker’s Spurs transfer would see her become the most expensive Lionesses player in the league.
The forward was named the PFA’s Women’s Player of the Year in September 2020 after netting 14 goals in 15 WSL games in the 2019-20 season.
However the Lionesses striker has at times struggled to secure a starting spot in Emma Hayes’ star-studded Blues side making just two starts in her eight WSL appearances this term.
One of her most famous strikes for her former club came during Chelsea’s opening game that term at Stamford Bridge
In September 2019 she walloped home a stunning left-footed long range effort in a 1-0 defeat of Spurs.
The striker began her senior playing career at Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2011 before joining Sheffield Wednesday on loan later that year.
She then joined Chelsea in 2016 with one season spent on loan at Liverpool from 2017 to 2018.
During her time with the Blues England netted 74 goals in 163 appearances.
And she helped them to win four league titles, two FA Cups, a league cup trophy and a Community Shield.
Reflecting on the striker’s efforts Blues manager Emma Hayes, 45, said: “Bethany has given tremendous service to the club.
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“She has contributed to all of our success over the past seven years and she leaves a winner and a Chelsea legend.
“We wish her the very best for the next stage of her career.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
