Just over one year ago, Alyssa Thompson joined Chelsea on transfer deadline day, moving thousands of miles away from her home and family in Los Angeles as a 20-year-old rising star.
It didn’t take long for her to settle in. The pacy winger made 33 appearances in her maiden campaign, scoring nine times and providing four assists for her team-mates. She established herself as one of the best players in the Women’s Super League and earned a place in the WSL Team of the Season.
Now, 12 months on, Thompson sat down with us to discuss her evolution on and off the pitch since she made the bold move from LA.
‘I feel like I've changed a lot since I first came here,’ she said. ‘Being able to meet Nay (Naomi Girma) and Ellie (Carpenter) was really nice, and now we're so close. I was talking to them about it, saying how it's crazy that we didn't know each other a year ago!
‘So I think making those friendships and growing a lot as a person independently means I feel like I've learned a lot about myself.
‘On the pitch, I've grown a lot by just having so many amazing players around me and continuing to have confidence in myself. In all areas of my game, I've got better. It’s just by small margins, but it helps a lot, and I think being in this environment will continue to help me become the best soccer player that I can be.
‘Off the pitch, I cook now, and I didn't before. I feel like more of an adult in terms of taking care of myself and not relying so much on my parents and my family to be there for me, and I think that's all part of growing up. I cook pasta, chicken, steak, pad Thai, Greek. I just look on Instagram for recipes, and it’s really easy.’
When Thompson arrived, she explained that she made the decision to join Chelsea because of the prestige of the club. She wanted to play in the Women’s Champions League against other elite European sides. Yet that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t miss home. Still only 21, the former Angel City FC forward has learned to cope with the heartache that comes with living so far from her family.
‘I feel like being a part of Chelsea is such an honour,’ Thompson continued. ‘I knew the history before, but I feel like being in it and having to hold those values and the pressure that comes with it means it’s such a privilege to be on this team and be at this club.
‘Everyone here respects that, and being part of such a historic club was important to me. So I think it’s great to learn more about the history and to be around the people that helped build it up. It’s also great to be among the new people that are continuing to push the values that Chelsea has always been built on.
‘Being able to go back for international breaks helps, but I think when I first got here, I was super homesick, just because of how different it was. Coming back here for my second season, I was really excited to have a new mindset and just embrace it more. It was helpful that it was really sunny and hot when I came back; I didn't know England got like that!’
No sooner had the players arrived back at Cobham after their summer break than they were jetting off across the world to connect with our fanbase over in Australia and New Zealand.
Thompson explains why that trip was so valuable in terms of team bonding, and gave details of the side's ambitions in the new campaign, which will resume when we take on Manchester United away from home in the WSL on Sunday.
‘To have a full pre-season with the team and not feel like the newest person was really nice,’ she said. ‘I feel like it was fun being able to be with the team and be somewhere different.
‘It was really far, but I think as a team we got a lot closer and being able to have fun together and laugh, just not take everything so seriously before the season got going properly, was really nice. And Ellie showed us around Australia and New Zealand, too!
‘I think as a team we want to be super ambitious this year, and we want to win more than we did last year. Everyone's coming into the season hungry, and for myself, I want to help the team in any way I can. Hopefully that means scoring goals and assisting and being a part of helping the team have success.’
The Blues played our first match at Stamford Bridge since making it our permanent home for league fixtures last Saturday. The 1-1 draw with Aston Villa took place in front of a passionate crowd, and Thompson explained the extra motivation the squad will take from that kind of atmosphere as the season progresses.
‘I feel like the crowd was really good at the game, and I think it helps playing at Stamford Bridge,' Thompson concluded. 'It’s such an amazing stadium, and I love playing there. Having the fans cheer us on, and for it to be our home now, is really amazing, and it's super fun to play there.
‘And whenever the fans come, you feel that extra love, and you want to play your best for them.’