Fox joined the Chelsea Academy when she was eight years old and worked her way up through the age groups before she made her first team debut in November 2019.

Today, on what is her 18th birthday, Fox has signed a two-year contract and in an exclusive interview, the youngster talks about the sacrifices she has had to make along her football journey, what it’s like to now call her childhood idols team-mates and her ambitions for the new season.

Jorga, congratulations on signing your first professional contract. Talk us through your football journey so far?

I started playing football when I was five. I trialled at Chelsea when I was eight and I was offered a place in the under-11s. I’ve had so many great coaches that have helped me develop. I was never the flashiest player, but I’ve always worked hard and been committed. I’ve had to make many sacrifices with other sports along my journey like hockey, ballet, swimming, and I was only a few weeks away from getting my black belt in karate, but football has always been my passion and priority.

Over the years I’ve worked my way through Chelsea’s youth teams, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Last year I went full time with the first team whilst doing my A-Levels. I then made my debut and here I am now signing my first professional contract.

How has Emma Hayes helped your game over the past year?

Playing under Emma has been amazing. She drives my standards daily and pushes me to find extra edges in my game which I didn’t know I had. She’s direct and honest which makes me want to prove myself. I value her advice and guidance and I’m so grateful for the trust she puts in me. She is really inspiring and makes it clear what it takes to play at this level, which drives my motivation even more. I’m so grateful for how she developed me last season and I can’t wait to see what this season has in store.

With the quality in the squad, how has that improved your game?

Chelsea is full of the world’s best players and even just watching them and listening to them is an honour and a huge learning opportunity for me. Playing and training with them last season helped my development immensely. The standards were world-class every day.

I’ve always had high standards in everything I do and the pressure and challenge to keep learning has been a perfect environment for me to keep on improving. I’m always given guidance and advice from the players and staff and take everything on board to try and become the best player I can be.

You made your debut and first start for the club last season – what did that mean to you?

I couldn’t quite believe it – I’d achieved something I’d been working towards all my life. Every time I achieve a goal, I set myself a new one and making my debut was the goal for last season, so it felt surreal. I was really proud and honoured to represent Chelsea. Making it with my childhood idols, those who inspire me every day, made it extra special. All the nerves I had that day turned to excitement the moment I stepped onto that pitch.

You’ve been heavily involved with the first team throughout pre-season. How much have you enjoyed it?

It’s been great, I’ve loved it. It’s been a small group because of the international players being away but I feel like that has given me a lot of opportunities to express myself on the pitch and it’s meant that I’ve had a lot of personal guidance from the coaching staff. I’m high in confidence going into the new season and I’ve really enjoyed getting those pre-season games under my belt and getting back out onto the pitch with the team.

What are your personal aims going into the new season?

I want to keep driving my development and put myself in the best possible position to get onto the pitch and represent the club. I’ll focus on the here and now, take all the opportunities that are given to me with everything I’ve got. I want to continue to learn from my team-mates and keep improving.

Looking further ahead, what do you hope to achieve over the next few years?

My main aim is to become a regular part of the team at Chelsea and with England too. I want to help Chelsea win more trophies and break more records. I also want to become an idolised figure for the next generation of footballers.