Kirby: I took Albion opportunity to find myself again

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The midfielder has had an immediate impact with Albion since joining us in the summer.

Charlie Hanson

2024-10-23T06:00+01:00

Fran Kirby joined Albion in the summer after nine years with Chelsea. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

Fran Kirby has said she’s feeling settled with Albion after her summer move.

The England international spent nine years with Chelsea, winning the WSL five years in a row as well as helping the Lionesses win Euro 2022.

While she made 20 appearances in the WSL last season for Chelsea, just nine were starts. The opportunity to be a regular on the pitch and a major influence off it with Albion proved to be too good an opportunity to turn down.

“I am really happy, the 31-year-old said. “I came here and there was a lot of question marks around it. There were a few comments like ‘why would she go to Brighton?’

Fran Kirby has scored three goals in all competitions for Albion. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

“For me, I just saw it as a really good opportunity to find myself again and to be in a place where I can come in every day, have fun, take that little bit of pressure off and reinvent myself a little bit as a footballer.

“Last year I didn't play as much as I would have liked to, so it was about going somewhere I can get minutes, where I can still improve and where I can help both on and off the pitch. I've been able to do that so far, but it's still very early on in the season and we know there's a long way to go.”

Her time with Chelsea proved incredibly fruitful, lifting the FA Cup five times, the League Cup twice and reaching the Champions League final in 2021, in addition to her WSL success.

Having an influence off the pitch is just as important to Fran. 📷 by James Boardman.

But a key part of Kirby’s joy comes from being on the pitch as much as possible.

“When you've been at a club for so long there's always going to be changes and transitions. There are so many good quality players at the club [Chelsea] and for me, you lose yourself as a player when you don't play.

“That's why everyone wants to play because we love it and we want to be out there. So it was about going somewhere new and getting a feel for it again, getting into a rhythm of starting a game and starting the next game.

Fran has scored two goals in the WSL for Albion so far this campaign, with both goals coming from the penalty spot. 📷 by Kyle Hemsley.

“It was a case of coming here and showing what I could do for the team and for the fans of Brighton, to remind people that I'm still here. I'm still kicking. I'm still going and still want to improve every day.

“I want to come here and I want to be a player that the manager wants, that the players want. I really want to keep pushing myself and building myself in the next few years.”