Aggie Beever-Jones shines as Chelsea’s rising star in their opening match against Manchester City, proving she’s more than just an impact player. Her goal and overall performance highlight her potential to dominate Chelsea’s frontline this season, following a successful year where she topped the scoring charts and earned a spot in England’s squad for the European title defense.
The roar of the crowd, the vibrant hues of pyrotechnics fading into the night, and the meticulously rolled-up WSL-branded carpet – the stage was set. As the prolific Sam Kerr watched from the bench and the much-talked-about club-record signing, Alyssa Thompson, observed from the stands, it was Aggie Beever-Jones, the academy graduate, who stood poised at the center circle, ready to spearhead Chelsea’s attack against Manchester City. Her presence was not merely a placeholder; it was a statement. And when the 22-year-old forward etched her name onto the scoresheet, opening the Blues’ account on that electrifying Friday night, it felt like destiny.
Amidst the buzz surrounding Kerr’s anticipated comeback from an ACL injury that sidelined her for 20 months and Chelsea’s dramatic late swoop to secure Thompson from NWSL’s Angel City for a staggering £1.1 million, it was Beever-Jones, a lifelong Chelsea devotee, who seized the narrative. Thirty minutes into the game, she emphatically declared her status as more than just an ‘impact player,’ deftly converting Ellie Carpenter’s precise cross from the right flank. It was a moment that resonated deeply, a testament to her unwavering dedication and burgeoning talent.
Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea's astute manager, lauded Beever-Jones’ multifaceted abilities. "Today she showed that quality, she made some good runs in behind but also she was able to keep the ball under pressure," Bompastor noted, highlighting the young forward's tactical intelligence and composure under duress.
"That’s really good for her and for us because she’s more unpredictable when she’s able to do both," Bompastor continued, emphasizing the strategic advantage that Beever-Jones’ versatility brings to the team. "For a forward that’s a nice combination. She’s a complete player. With the ball, without the ball, she works hard. She was dictating our press tonight and she did that well.”
The seeds of Beever-Jones’ ascendance were sown during Emma Hayes’s final campaign at the helm of Chelsea, before her departure to lead the US women’s national team. Hayes, known for her keen eye for talent, had publicly acknowledged Beever-Jones’ immense potential, draping an arm around the young player during an on-pitch interview and proclaiming, “Aggie Beever-Jones. Don’t forget that name. She’s going to be a legend not just for Chelsea but for England,” as Chelsea marched towards their fifth consecutive league title.
Since that prophetic moment, Beever-Jones has become Chelsea's embodiment of reliability. Her nine goals last season, amassed across 12 starts and 10 substitute appearances, crowned her as Chelsea’s top scorer in the 2024-25 season. Bompastor skillfully deployed her across the front three, plugging the gaps left by Kerr's injury and subsequent setbacks to Mayra Ramírez, Catarina Macario, and the departed Mia Fishel.
The culmination of that stellar campaign saw Beever-Jones, draped in Chelsea blue, proudly clutching three trophies, a symbol of the domestic treble they had secured. Her contributions were pivotal, her presence a constant source of inspiration for her teammates and the legions of Chelsea faithful.
Weeks later, at Wembley, she etched her name into Lionesses folklore with a stunning hat-trick against Portugal, becoming only the second Lioness, alongside Beth Mead, to achieve that feat at the hallowed national stadium. That performance all but guaranteed her place in England’s squad for their highly anticipated European title defense in Switzerland this summer. Despite limited playing time – just 74 minutes across three substitute appearances – she made her mark, scoring the sixth goal in England’s emphatic 6-1 triumph over Wales.
Aggie Beever-Jones launches a shot against Manchester City.
Against Manchester City, Beever-Jones drew first blood. Her chance came, and she seized it with both hands.
With an hour played, it was almost a second for the dynamic forward, but her final ball after she weaved into the box from the left was sent over the bar.
That was the forward’s final action, coming off for Macario soon after, but it was a bright and effective showing.
Afterwards, Bompastor said she showed she has the mentality and quality to be able to perform in the biggest games. “She’s showing everyone she’s ready and she’s able to perform in a big game,” she said.
“She has the right mentality, she works hard, she’s always listening to the small tweaks we can bring into her game and I think today was a really good day for her.”
Few grab opportunities with both hands as often and emphatically as the young forward, one of few academy graduates to force their way into contention among Chelsea’s star-studded squad following two developmental loan spells, with Bristol City and then Everton.
She showed no sign of stopping her push to give Bompastor a real headache under the lights here. While Macario was quiet after coming on and Kerr stripped to her kit and then re-dressed, not ready to taste action with the game poised at 2-1 after Niamh Charles’s own goal to reduce City’s deficit, it was the player whose blood runs Chelsea blue who demonstrated what putting faith in her potential elicits.
This could be the season she shakes off the ‘potential’, ‘substitute’,’ future talent’ labels and begins to dominate the Chelsea frontline. If they put their faith in her.