‘Excited’ Williams joins Chelsea Ladies
England international Rachel Williams says she cannot wait for the season to start after agreeing a move to Chelsea Ladies.
Williams, signed from Birmingham City Ladies, will form part of a mouthwatering attack that includes fellow England international Eniola Aluko and Fifa Women’s Player of the Year nominee Yuki Ogimi.
Despite being only 25, Williams has enjoyed a successful career to date, representing England on 10 occasions, as well as forming part of Hope Powell’s Team GB squad at last year’s Olympics.
Domestically, Williams was the FA WSL’s top scorer with 14 goals in 14 matches and Players’ Player of the Year in 2011, while she was twice a runner-up in the league with Birmingham.
And Williams, who began her career at hometown club Leicester City Women, is targeting a successful campaign in her new surroundings under manager Emma Hayes.
She said: “I’m really excited and have been ever since I met up with [assistant manager] Paul Green and Emma and they told me what they are determined to do here.
“They are determined to be competitive next year and I am really looking forward to it.
“I came and met Paul and Emma here and was impressed with what I saw.
“The set-up behind the scenes is impressive as are the staff, players and training facilities – it really is top class and all I want to do now is crack on and play football.
“It’s definitely an exciting move. I’ve always played with my heart on my sleeve and I will do the same here at Chelsea and hopefully it will bring success.
“The groundwork is there and they are strengthening for next year and hopefully I can come in and work alongside Yuki and Eni or maybe just off Yuki up front, which I feel will be really good for me and the club and I look forward to it.
“With Yuki being nominated as world player I know there will be a lot to learn but there is also Eni who I know from England and I look forward to working with her and learning from her both at club and international level.
“It’s an exciting season for sure and hopefully we can win something.”
Williams’ international career is yet to hit the heights many expect it will do in the future, with Powell omitting her from the Euro 2009 squad and the World Cup two years later.
Powell has since vacated her position with the national team ,with Brent Hills the current caretaker manager, and Williams is confident her move to Chelsea Ladies will prove the catalyst her England career needs.
“My international career has come to a bit of a stop but I know this is the right club to get me back in the window for England,” she added.
“I am just going to work hard and ensure whoever the next England manager will be I catch their eye and they think ‘you know what, we need her in the England team’.”
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