A Year 11 student at St John Bosco Arts College in Croxteth has secured a two-year contract with Chelsea FC Women's academy following her standout performances for the England women's under-17 football team. Chelsea N'Drin, who will leave the secondary school after completing her GCSEs this summer, will join the under-18 academy squad of one of the most successful clubs in English women's football.
Having previously spent five years progressing through the Liverpool FC Women academy system, where she recently helped win the Junior Premier League tournament, N'Drin will now continue to develop as a forward with Chelsea. She expressed her excitement about the move, saying: "Signing for Chelsea feels surreal and I'm excited for the new challenge it will bring. I'm grateful to Liverpool FC for believing in me and supporting me throughout my journey - from the coaches to my teammates everyone has helped me improve both as a player and as a person."
She added: "My five years in the academy has taught me so much about the importance of hard work, resilience, discipline, and what it truly means to represent a club like Liverpool. I've learned to push myself every day and created memories which I'll always carry with me. I'm thankful for how far Liverpool has helped me come, and I'm excited for everything still to come."
Since 2023, N'Drin has been a regular member of England women's youth teams, attending camps in the Netherlands, France, Poland, and across the UK, as well as competing in various national and international tournaments. Most recently, she was one of five forwards selected to represent England in the UEFA Women's under-17 European Championship in Northern Ireland last month. She played in all three group-stage matches, providing an assist against Northern Ireland in a 2-0 victory and scoring in a 1-1 draw with Norway.
Balancing her sporting commitments with her studies, N'Drin has impressed staff at St John Bosco Arts College with her commitment, determination, and positive approach to learning. Michelle Hinnigan, teacher of PE and N'Drin's head of year, commented: "We are incredibly proud of Chelsea and her outstanding achievement in representing England at under-17 level recently in the European Championships, as well as securing a contract with Chelsea FC Women. This is testament not only to Chelsea's exceptional talent, but also her dedication, discipline, and resilience over many years in football. Coming from an all-girls school, it's fantastic to see her breakthrough and reach her goals, and we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Chelsea."
Darren Gidman, headteacher of St John Bosco Arts College, added: "We are absolutely delighted for Chelsea following her signing for Chelsea FC Women's academy, and are incredibly proud of all that she has achieved both on and off the pitch during her five years here at St John Bosco Arts College. Chelsea is a wonderful example of our school community's commitment to nurturing the gifts, dreams and talents of all, and we look forward to seeing her continue to flourish on the football pitch as she embarks on this exciting next chapter. Well done, Chelsea!"
