The seeds of her current success were planted long ago. Big aspirations and persistent hard work brought about an unlikely rise from modest beginnings to the biggest of stages in the women’s game.

Yet she’s not lost touch with the part of her that had to fight for every advantage, nor the little girl who dreamed of having it all.

‘It's a dream I always had as a child, to be in a big city representing a big club, playing in big tournaments,’ Ramirez says during an interview in her native Spanish. ‘So, I think there’s a big difference compared to where I came from, but I never forget that inner child that I carry inside me, that joy that I have for football.

‘I think that's the most important thing, to bring those little memories of being a little girl onto the pitch and keep that dreamer alive, that fighter who always tries to fulfil her goals, to never stop dreaming, and to keep loving football while focusing on winning big titles with this great club.’

‘I'll always give everything on the pitch,' she continued. 'I feel like the other players give me their all, so I’ll fight for them. I battle on the pitch and I do it for the good of the team.

‘I always try to score because that's the most important thing for a forward, but I also have to work hard in every aspect of the pitch.’

Our supporters have done their part in making Chelsea feel like a home away from home for Ramirez, a factor made all the more important considering she could speak very little English when she arrived from Levante in January 2024.

Now, the Colombia international is approaching 50 appearances in blue, and speaks of a constant process of improvement, both personally and within the team.

‘I was surprised by just how much affection the Chelsea fans have given me,’ she added. ‘I have realised they are a fanbase that always support you from the first minute to the 90th or even the 100th minute of a match. They are always cheering you on, they are always singing for you.

‘I am amazed that every player has a song, and the fans sing them at times when they feel it is important to make a player feel good. We are always very grateful to this special fanbase that supports us, wherever we go.

‘They will be in Spain when we play against Barcelona – they always make themselves heard. They always give us that encouragement to keep trying and keep improving on the pitch.

‘I always think there is always more to come from me; I am always in a constant evolution. I feel that you can always improve on what you have done before when you work hard in the present moment.

‘The whole team is working towards that too, to do better in every moment on the pitch. We are in a constant evolution, doing our best to get better. I believe that at the end of this period, we will see how much we have developed, both as players and as a team.

‘I believe that when you are at a big club, you must always have personal objectives to become a top player. We always dream of winning as many titles as possible. Now, I believe that we are still on track to win every trophy this year and think that we need to be in the best shape and keep improving as a squad to reach our goals.’

After almost 15 months in England, there’s no hint of homesickness. In fact, it’s quite the opposite as Mayra continues to feel more settled in a new environment, and with a new language. She is also unequivocal about what she wants the future to look like, and that's to stay exactly where she is.

Her journey so far makes it seem unthinkable that she will stop battling to improve. The ‘fighter’ she referred to is still very much alive inside her, and she’s hungry for success with Chelsea.

‘I want to stay here for a long time at Chelsea,’ Ramirez explains. ‘As soon as I arrived, I said to myself: 'I'm going to stay here as long as the universe allows.' I’ll always give my best.

‘I hope, as I say, to win a lot of titles here in Chelsea, that it will become my home, because I am feeling that it is becoming more and more the case. So, doing my best, winning titles, and continuing to grow as a person and as a collective at Chelsea.’