England's Next Star and Neurodiversity Advocate: The Story of Young Lioness Jessie Gale

Author: Rachel Roberts

Various top female footballers share their first encounters with football as emerging from observing their older brothers playing football. And Jessie Gale, England's rising star, is no exception. 

Jessie is a 19-year-old English forward currently playing for Bristol City in the WSL2, on loan from Arsenal. Jessie is very familiar with WSL 2. Like many young talents, she has already had several stints there. She previously played for Portsmouth. 

She stems from a football mad family, so no wonder she chose this path. Her older brother Sam is a professional footballer for Gillingham in the EFL League Two. 

With just a two-year age gap between the siblings, Jessie was immersed into football from a young age and an ADHD diagnosis during her childhood reinforced a hyper fixation towards the sport as an outlet for her to openly express herself. 

Having joined Arsenal’s academy in January 2024 and having had various opportunities to train with the senior squad and her big role models. She signed her first professional contract in July 2025 as 18-year-old, which is huge for a young player like Jessie. 

Young role model

Despite her young age, she wants to be a role model, using her platform to openly discuss her neurodiversity. ADHD in women has become a major topic of discussion recently, partly because women have been overlooked in diagnosis for many years. In women’s soccer, Lucy Bronze, for example, has brought this issue to light. 

With Arsenal’s large following Jessie has emerged as an advocate and example for other neurodivergent women and girls who often receive late diagnoses as well as raising awareness about the condition more broadly to challenge misconceptions. 

Her time in North London so far has been very positive as Jessie signed her first professional contract with the club in summer 2025. Since then, she has spent time on loan in the WSL2 to gain vital professional experience, spending the first half of the 2025/2026 season with Portsmouth before moving to Bristol City in January. 

Jessie’s initial loan to Portsmouth saw her make 15 apperances across all competitions and she scored five goals. Her move to Bristol then saw her maintain momentum and make instant impressions as she received the Barclays WSL2 Goal of the Month award for January as well as the PFA WSL2 Fans’ Player of the Month Award for January. 

Will she catch Sarina's eye?

Her impressive form at club level has not gone unnoticed as Jessie has been receiving regular call-ups for England’s youth sides. She made her international debut for the under-19s in October 2024 and since then she has represented England’s under-20 and under-23 squads.  

An under-23s debut earlier this month is particularly impressive for the 19-year-old and England boss Sarina Wiegman regularly observes the under-23s training, so Jessie is proving her capabilities, rapid development and that football is a stimulating environment where she thrives. 

So far for her country Jessie has made 13 appearances and has scored four goals, with various chances to extend her scoring stats during the under-23s recent camp.  

Jessie highlights that despite the intense pressures of playing in professional environments, constant demands provide structure for her brain and body to be stimulated and energy to be optimised. 

With so much talent and tenacity, this trajectory is continuing to allow Gale to sail in professional women’s football and her determination, focus and resilience in embracing her neurodivergence could see her follow in her brother’s footsteps.