The 20-year-old was recognised for her exceptional contribution with the Rising Star accolade for 2025/26 at Monday night’s Women’s Super League awards ceremony in London.

And speaking after being announced as the winner of that award, Buurman explained how she managed to prove herself on the pitch so soon after her arrival.

‘My first season here in England, in the WSL, has been amazing,’ she said. ‘I had a big second half of the season, and I was playing a lot more. I felt the trust and support from my teammates and the staff.

‘I always knew what I was capable of, but I think I needed to show Chelsea – the staff and the players – what I can do. Playing and training with so much quality around me makes me feel comfortable and makes me feel like myself on the pitch.

‘I never expected to receive this trophy in my first year, but I'm really happy.’

Buurman was able to draw on the squad's experience to grow and improve over the course of the campaign. But, as she explained, a regular place in the Chelsea side comes with extra responsibility, no matter your age or experience.

‘I’ve learned to be defensively important for the team, but also on the ball,’ Buurman continued. ‘It’s about bossing the defensive line, helping each other, and just learning a lot.

‘This first year, I’ve learned so much from players like Lucy (Bronze), but also all the other players. Alyssa (Thompson), Hannah (Hampton) and Erin (Cuthbert), who are here tonight. That means a lot, and I can learn a lot. They have a lot of experience.

‘I think because I'm playing more and I’ve had a lot of playing time, it means you're not new anymore. You need to help the team as well and figure out how to do that in different ways.

'We have a lot of good defenders, so it's always going to be competitive in the backline, but in a good way. We play hard and help each other a lot. Asking questions has helped me a lot in this first year.’

Buurman names compatriot Wieke Kaptein as a factor in helping her to adjust to life in England. Kaptein had a full campaign under her belt before Buurman joined up with the squad in pre-season, and has been able to give key pointers along the way.

While leaving her home country was a big decision, it’s clear that the defender has no regrets over her choice.

She said: ‘Moving from the Netherlands to England was a big step, especially because I was 19 years old. Wieke is playing here as well. She helped me a lot.

‘But the competition is so much better here. Every game is a big game, and you need to stay competitive because otherwise, you're not getting the three points.’