Chelsea breakout star Aggie Beever-Jones: ‘I feel a lot more comfortable in my abilities’

When Chelsea Women are playing at Stamford Bridge, the usual collection of street vendors on the Fulham Road put away their men’s merchandise for the afternoon. In their place hang scarves resplendent with the star names – Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, Lauren James. It is not a particularly scientific method for monitoring the growth of the women’s game but it is a notable change. One of those scarves says ‘Beever-Jones’.

“My mum has about five of those,” laughs Aggie Beever-Jones, when asked about the unofficial merchandise of her face, which bears more of a resemblance to her than those of some of her team-mates. The 21-year-old forward is beloved by Chelsea fans, with her popularity being unsurprising given she is the club’s first academy product to play regularly at senior level since Hannah Blundell, who made her debut in 2013.

Chelsea is also in her blood. She started going to matches as a child, taken by her grandfather who was a season ticket holder.

“He was a black cab driver,” she said. “He used to take us from that and park the car somewhere. The first thing I remember was there being so many people, and holding onto my grandad’s hand. I never once thought I would get the opportunity to play at that stadium.”

She initially trialled for Chelsea as an eight-year-old but didn’t get in. A year later she trialled again and made the cut. Following loans at Bristol City and Everton, she joined Chelsea’s senior squad last season. Her first Women’s Super League start for Chelsea came at Stamford Bridge, against Liverpool, and with it a goal.

“I was petrified. I remember thinking: ‘This is something that I dreamt of as a kid,’ she said.

“It was surreal to score at Stamford Bridge where so many great players have played, and to have my family there as well. My dad rarely ever cries, but maybe even he shed a tear.”

Last year was a break-out season for Beever-Jones, who finished the year with 13 goals in all competitions including 11 in the WSL. A senior England call-up came in May 2024 followed by a first cap in July. Yet the way she found herself propelled into the limelight has come with its own challenges.

“At the start of the season, if I’m honest, I put a bit too much pressure on myself,” she said.

“After having the season I had, where people were chatting about me, I realised that sometimes you have to block out all the noise going on around you.

“I’ve been able to do that a lot better in the second half of the season. I feel a lot more confident and comfortable in my abilities. I’ve got such a great support network here at Chelsea and I think you can see that on the pitch.

“I’ve always been at Chelsea and always knew this is where I wanted to get, but whether I would get there was a different scenario. Niamh (Charles) and Millie (Bright) have always been there for me and always had my back. That’s the great thing about being in a team with people you really get along with. You have people there to pick you up when you need it.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say there were moments where it was a bit more tough, when you have to deal with not having such a great game, or dips in form. But I think it is just staying consistent in your mind and knowing that you’ve got people around you to help you out and get you through those rough patches.”

Beever-Jones’ manager Sonia Bompastor is aware of the challenges her young forward has faced.“She had a few moments this season where sometimes she was a little bit frustrated not to start games,” she said, after Beever-Jones scored Chelsea’s final goal of the WSL season.

“I told her: ‘Aggie, I understand, you have the right mentality, it’s normal for you to be frustrated not to start. But also you need to realise, you already started more games this season than last season.’

“It’s about having these conversations with the players to make them realise even when it's a little bit more tough, they need to stay confident.”

Beever-Jones was the only player other than Hannah Hampton who Bompastor used in every WSL game this season, and her goalscoring has continued to impress. In the past two seasons, only Bunny Shaw, Alessia Russo and Elisabeth Terland have scored more WSL goals than her – and all three are their club’s starting strikers.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt like I’ve really taken a step back and realised what has happened,” Beever-Jones said.

“That’s partly why football is so tough. You just play each game and then you have to switch off from that game and carry on to the next one. I don’t even know that I have some of the stats I have.

“I just try to play good football. Obviously being at Chelsea and having world class players around me makes my job a lot easier. But I try to not get too caught up in it and just enjoy it and play with a smile on my face.”

It was Beever-Jones who put Chelsea into the FA Cup final with a 94th minute winner against Liverpool. She is yet to make a Wembley appearance for club and country, so has her eyes set on making it onto the pitch.

“Millie Bright told me it’s the best trophy to lift,” she said.

“So hopefully it will be one that I could add to my own personal collection, and Chelsea’s too.”

Photograph by Harriet Lander – Chelsea FC via Getty Images