Once the smoke from the pyrotechnics cleared and the orange WSL-branded carpet was rolled up, as prolific striker Sam Kerr sat on the bench and club record signing, Alyssa Thompson, in the stands, it was the academy graduate Aggie Beever-Jones who stood by the centre circle ready to lead the line for Chelsea as they kickstarted the new season against Manchester City. That it was the 22-year-old forward who opened Blues’ account on Friday night was fitting. This is home.
For all the hype about Kerr’s return 20 months out from her anterior cruciate ligament injury and the Blues’ late £1.1m swoop to pry Thompson from NWSL side Angel City, it was the lifelong fan who would announce, in style, 30 minutes in, that she is so much more than an impact player, turning in Ellie Carpenter’s tight cross from the right.
