The Blues forward played a huge role for Chelsea last season and Kirby’s contribution was key in helping her side win the Barclays Women’s Super League, the Continental League Cup and reach the Champions League final for the first time in our history.

On our way to securing back-to-back WSL titles, Kirby netted 16 times in 18 appearances and provided 11 assists – an impressive tally considering the No.14 spent large periods of our previous campaign on the sidelines due to illness.

Kirby also finished as our Champions League top goalscorer with six goals in nine appearances and it was during the opening game of our European campaign when the 27-year-old become Chelsea Women’s all-time leading goalscorer.

The England international overtook former Chelsea forward Eni Aluko at the top of the goal scoring charts when she netted a brace against Benfica back in December and Kirby now has an impressive tally of 90 goals in 134 appearances for the Blues.

Kirby has already been recognised for her standout performances across the 2020/21 campaign and was recently voted by fans as the winner of the 2020/21 Millennium and Resorts Chelsea Women’s team Player of the Year.

The Chelsea forward also scooped the Barclays FA Women’s Super League Player of the Year and the Football Writers’ Association Women’s Footballer of the Year, but this latest award may be the sweetest of them all as it is decided by the votes of fellow professional footballers.

This is the second time Kirby has scooped the PFA Player of the Year award, while Ji So-Yun and Bethany England have also won this honour in previous years.