‘A Great Opportunity’ – Jones Speaks On Foxes Move
- Ellen Jones became LCFC Women’s fifth summer signing
- The 19-year-old previously played in the WSL for Bristol City
- The midfielder was at Colorado Buffaloes last year
- She believes those previous experiences will help her to bed in
The versatile midfielder arrived at Belvoir Drive on Thursday, ready for the new Barclays Women’s Super League season, following time with Colorado Buffaloes, who she represented in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1.
Completing a medical and fitness tests before sitting down with LCFC TV for her first interview as a Fox, the 19-year-old gave insight into why she feels this is the right place to continue her progression.
"It feels amazing to be here,” Jones began. “It’s so nice to come back to the WSL after spending some time out in America. I’m just excited to get started at Leicester. I think this is a great opportunity for me.
“I had a number of options, but I just thought that everything Leicester could provide for me felt like the right fit. I drove in and automatically I thought: ‘wow’. There are so many different football pitches, the gym, it’s amazing. I love the facility already.
“I think this Club is a great place to be, striving to make good progress, and I’m looking to do that.”
Starting her fledging career with Bristol City, debuting for the Vixens in November 2020, before moving to the University of Colorado a year later, both provided unique experiences at a young age that have helped to shape her game and ensure she develops the required capabilities to compete at this level again.
“I was 17 when I played at Bristol City before going out to America,” Jones continued. “And I think it was a very valuable experience getting that WSL exposure at a very young age. And I think that will only help me coming back now and hopefully I can make an impact.
“It was a great experience, a different style of football so it’s good to have that under my belt and being a versatile player, learning to adapt to different things and overall, besides the football, it’s just a great experience out there and the culture.”
“Definitely one area I really improved in is my physical capabilities. And now, coming back, I’m looking to help implement that and keep improving technically and tactically.
“I’m naturally an attacking midfielder, but I can play as a forward, or any attacking position really. I can bring energy to the team; I work very hard and just resilient. I’m both footed, so I think that’ll be helpful.”
On the international stage, the youngster has represented both England and Wales at youth levels, and is now looking to break through at senior level for the Dragons, after recently being selected for a training camp alongside new Leicester City team-mate, Carrie Jones.
She explained: “I started out with Wales Under-15s, and then I played with them until Under-17s, when I switched to England. I’m so grateful for all the experiences I had and now I’m going back to Wales. I recently went on a senior camp. It’s just great experiences.
“It’s nice to come here and have some familiar faces. Jemma Purfield, I played with her at Bristol City, Carrie [Jones] with Wales, I’ve grown up and played in age groups with her. I’m looking forward to getting to know all of the girls, but it’s nice to be reunited with some girls that I’ve already played with.”