Lucia Kendall on Her Rapid Rise, England Debut, and Ambitions with Aston Villa

At just 22 years old, Lucia Kendall has experienced a whirlwind first season in the Women's Super League with Aston Villa, quickly earning her spot in the England squad under Sarina Wiegman. The midfielder moved up from Southampton last July, where she began senior football at 16, spending five seasons before making the leap to top-flight football.

Within weeks of her debut at Villa Park against Chelsea, Kendall was called up to the Lionesses and earned her first cap against Australia, winning Player of the Match honors. Soon after, she scored at St Mary's Stadium in a friendly against Ghana and featured in the crucial World Cup qualifying match versus Spain at Wembley.

"Crazy," Kendall said when reflecting on her milestones, "Even now, I look back on it and I can’t really take it all in."

Experience and Maturity Off the Pitch

Kendall credits her time at Southampton for preparing her to handle the demands of the WSL. Despite playing in lower tiers, she faced moments where she had to lead the game as a teenager, which set a strong foundation for higher-level competition.

The biggest challenge off the field was adapting to living away from home for the first time, a transition she admits has taken longer to settle into than the football itself. Her steady attitude seems to stem from that experience and the trust placed in her by coaches.

Breaking into the England Team

Joining the national team shortly after their European Championship win, Kendall remained grounded despite the rapid rise. She says it still feels surreal to be an official Lioness and finds a balance between confidence and respecting the weight of representing her country.

"I know I play my best when I’m confident, but that’s a fine balance, really, to be confident but also understand the magnitude of what you’re doing," she explained.

The Importance of Trust

Sarina Wiegman’s faith was clear when she assured Kendall before her debut, "You deserve to be playing." That honesty and openness helped Kendall thrive. At club level, Villa’s coach Natalia Arroyo is known for developing young talent by understanding each player deeply. Kendall felt secure knowing that consistent performance would earn her a place in the starting lineup.

Looking Forward: Goals for Villa and England

After surviving her initial WSL season, Kendall wants to shift from maintaining her spot to influencing outcomes more directly. She aims to create scoring chances, take more risks on the ball, and impact games through goals and assists.

Her ambition is to master all midfield roles. While she played deeper at Villa last season to control tempo, her England appearances have often been box-to-box, a position she feels most comfortable in. Early in her career, she scored prolifically as a No.10, though she doesn’t see that as her natural spot.

• Southampton (first full season): 21 goals in 24 games as a No.10
• Villa (2025-26): Started 16 of 22 WSL games, played deeper midfield role
• England: Player of the Match on debut, scored against Ghana, started in World Cup qualifiers

World Cup Ambitions

Kendall talks openly about the upcoming 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, describing it as her guiding light. Still, she focuses on daily progress with Villa, knowing success there will help keep her in England's plans.

"Come the summer, I want to be there. But there’s so much that has to go right... On the pitch, I have to take care of my body, keep getting better, stay confident," she said. "That’s like the north star, the direction. But every day, I can’t put pressure on myself. The important thing is for Villa to be successful, and I want to play as big a part in that as possible."