Lola Brown

Lola Brown
Personal information
Full name Lola Sangita Brown[1]
Date of birth (2007-10-31) 31 October 2007
Place of birth Sliema, Malta
Height 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 25
Youth career
2015–2019 All Stars Soccer Academy
2019–2024 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Chelsea 1 (0)
2025–2026 → Crystal Palace (loan) 10 (0)
International career‡
2022–2024 England U17 28 (6)
2024– England U19 9 (4)
2026– England U20 2[2][3] (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:15, 29 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:15, 29 May 2026 (UTC)

Lola Sangita Brown (born 31 October 2007) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Chelsea. Born in Malta, she has represented England at international youth levels, and currently plays for the England under-20 team. Brown previously played for Crystal Palace on loan.

Early life

Lola Sangita Brown was born on 31 October 2007[4] in Sliema, Malta, and began playing football alongside her brother.[5] She moved to England at the age of eight.[6]

Brown attended Bede School.[7] She has stated that her favourite GCSE subject was art.[8]

Brown's family are ‘‘massive’’ Chelsea fans.[8] She has described Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard, Fran Kirby, and Lucy Bronze as her childhood heroes; she played alongside the latter two at Chelsea.[6][8] In 2022, following the Lionesses victory at the 2022 Euro, Brown was selected to carry the trophy out to the team at the celebration event in Trafalgar Square.[8]

Youth career

Brown began playing football at the All Stars Soccer Academy in Eastbourne, initially training with boys.[9]

In 2019, Brown joined Chelsea's academy, beginning at the under-12 level, and she was named the Chelsea Women's Academy U18 Player of the Year for the 2023–24 season.[10]

Club career

Chelsea, 2024–

On 18 November 2024, Brown signed her first professional contract with academy club Chelsea, signing on for three years.[11] Two days later, on 20 November 2024, she made her debut for the senior team as a substitute in a 3–0 Champions League win over Celtic.[12][13] In April 2025, Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor described Brown as ‘‘one of the most talented young players in England’’ and as having a ‘‘ruthless mentality.’’[14] Brown was named the club's Women's Academy Player of the Season on 4 May 2025.[4] On the same day, she made her Women's Super League debut for Chelsea, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 win over Tottenham.[15]

Loan to Crystal Palace, 2025–26

On 7 August 2025, it was announced that Brown would play on loan with Women's Super League 2 club Crystal Palace for the 2025–26 season.[10][16][17] She played in Palace's opening game of the season, a 1–0 loss to Charlton Athletic.[18] In late 2025, Brown was ruled out for a number of Palace's games due to injury.[19] She was part of the Palace squad which won promotion to the WSL at the conclusion of the 2025–26 season.[20]

Return to Chelsea, 2026–

In May 2026, Brown was included in Chelsea's team for the World Sevens, a seven-a-side invitational competition. She scored her first senior goal for Chelsea in a 5–2 win against London City Lionesses.[21] Chelsea won the tournament, defeating Manchester United 6–5.[22]

On 24 August 2026, Brown signed a new contract with the club, extending her stay until at least 2029.[23]

International career

Brown was part of the England under-17 squad which won silver at the 2024 Women's Under-17 Euro.[8] She was named to the Best XI of the tournament.[24] Brown also represented England at the 2024 U-17 Women's World Cup, scoring a penalty in England's 2–0 victory over Kenya on 17 October 2024.[25][26] In the quarterfinal, she was the first penalty-taker for England in their shootout win over Japan, helping the team progress to the semi-finals.[5][27]

Brown featured in the England under-19 team at the 2025 Women's Under-19 Euro.[28][29]

During February and March 2026, Brown was capped for the England under-20 team, including in a 4–1 win against Mexico where she provided an assist.[2][3] In April 2026, Brown was included in the England under-19 squad for the second round of qualifying for the 2026 Women's Under-19 Euro.[30] In May 2026, she was again called up to the under-20 team for a training camp and series of games to be played in June in preparation for the 2026 Women's U-20 World Cup.[31] On 21 August 2026, Brown was named to England's squad for the tournament.[32]

Personal life

In July 2026, Brown shared on her Instagram that her mother had died.[33] As of August 2026, Brown lives with Chelsea and England youth teammate Nelly Las.[34]

Brown wanted to dye her hair blonde if England reached the 2024 Under-17 Euro finals, and did so following their success;[8] the look was described as ‘‘trademark’’ by British Vogue.[35]

Career Statistics

Club

As of match played 2 May 2026[36]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Chelsea 2024–25 WSL 1000002030
2026–27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0
Crystal Palace (loan) 2025–26 WSL 2 1000010—110
Total 10 0 0 0 1 0 — 11 0
Career total 110001040140

Honours

Chelsea

Individual

  • Chelsea Women's Academy U18 Player of the Year: 2023–24
  • Chelsea Women's Academy Player of the Season: 2024–25

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Dominican Republic 2024 – Squad List (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. p. 5. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 Veevers, Nicholas (6 March 2026). "Report: Spain 3–1 England U20s". England Football. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 Veevers, Nicholas (6 March 2026). "Report: England WU20s 4–1 Mexico". England Football. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Lola Brown". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  5. 1 2 "World Stars in the Making: Get to know England's Lola Brown". FIFA. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Lola Brown: My journey to Chelsea". Chelsea F.C. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Gibson, Paul (4 September 2025). "Bede's Senior School kicks off year with football success". Hailsham News. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pennant, Felicia (10 June 2025). "Grass Acts: Meet England's next generation of Lionesses". Dazed. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  9. ↑ Ruszkai, Ameé (18 April 2025). "Lola Brown: The 'ruthless' Chelsea and England teen dubbed 'one of the most talented young players' in the Lionesses' system". GOAL. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Chelsea Duo Embark on Loan Spells to Boost Development". Women's Football News. 9 August 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Lola Brown signs professional contract". Chelsea FC. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Sanders, Emma (20 November 2022). "Bompastor hopes Chelsea can make winning 'become easy'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Match report: Chelsea 3–0 Celtic". Chelsea F.C. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  14. ↑ Ruszkai, Ameé (16 April 2025). "Lola Brown: The 'ruthless' Chelsea and England teen dubbed 'one of the most talented young players' in the Lionesses' system | Goal.com". GOAL. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  15. ↑ Brotherton, Alex (4 May 2025). "Tottenham Hotspur 0–1 Chelsea: Catarina Macario penalty gives WSL champions victory". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  16. ↑ Pentland, Daniel (7 August 2025). "Crystal Palace sign Chelsea midfielder Brown on loan". WSL Full-Time. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  17. ↑ Mills, Richie (22 October 2025). "Crystal Palace sign 17-year-old Chelsea wonderkid Lola Smith on loan deal for the 2025–26 season". GOAL. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  18. ↑ "Lola Brown on staying focused whilst injured, why she loves designing shoes, and her favourite part of Christmas dinner". Crystal Palace F.C. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  19. ↑ "Lola Brown on staying focused whilst injured, why she loves designing shoes, and her favourite part of Christmas dinner". Crystal Palace F.C. 5 December 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Lola Brown on being back with Chelsea and having fun at World Sevens". Chelsea F.C. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  21. ↑ "Chelsea vs London City Lionesses". World Seven's Football. 29 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Chelsea Rally from Three Goals Down to Capture W7F Championship - World Sevens Football". World Sevens Football. 31 May 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Lola Brown signs new contract". Chelsea F.C. 24 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Ruszkai, Ameé (26 March 2026). "NXGN 2026: Lola Brown, Laila Harbert and 10 English wonderkids that Lionesses fans NEED to know". GOAL. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Kenya 0–2 England Report". FIFA. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  26. ↑ Busto Chavala, Laura (5 December 2024). "2024 U-17 Women's World Cup: 5 young superstars to mark for the future". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  27. ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (1 January 2025). "Ten young WSL and Championship stars to look out for in 2025". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  28. ↑ "Everything you need to know about Lola Brown". Crystal Palace F.C. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  29. ↑ "Standout snaps from England's World Cup campaign". England Football. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  30. ↑ "WU19s squad target EURO Finals spot". England Football. 1 April 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "England WU20s squad named for World Cup preparations". England Football. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  32. ↑ Sanders, Emma (21 August 2026). "England Women's U20s World Cup squad named amid boycott threat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  33. ↑ Brown, Lola [@lolabrown293]; (3 July 2026). "It still doesn't feel real that I'm writing this but A few days ago we sadly had to say goodbye to my favorite person on this planet. A mum who was the most positive kind and strong person the most amazing women who really did light up any room she walked into and cared and loved us all so much. I will miss you so so much. Love you to the stars and back always x" – via Instagram.
  34. ↑ "Lola Brown excited for first pre-season tour". Chelsea F.C. 5 August 2026. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  35. ↑ Cochrane, Lauren (14 May 2025). "The Lionesses' New Kits Are Here. We Went To The Official Unveiling Party". British Vogue. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
  36. ↑ "Lola Brown Stats | Soccerway". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  37. ↑ Sanders, Emma (30 April 2025). "Chelsea secure sixth successive WSL title at Man Utd". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
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