England’s new name to know: Lucia Kendall’s rapid rise from Southampton to the Lionesses

Breaking into the England national football team setup is never easy - but Lucia Kendall has made it look exactly that. The 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder has quickly caught the attention of Sarina Wiegman with her energetic and composed performances in the Women's Super League this season. But while she looks like the complete footballer, it wasn’t always football for the youngster from Winchester.

Balancing act: Cricket, football and school

Before fully committing to football, Kendall looked set for a very different sporting path. Following in the footsteps of her father, Will Kendall - a former professional cricketer who played for Hampshire - she excelled in cricket, representing Hampshire Women and even earning a place in the England academy setup.

Her parents encouraged her to pursue both sports for as long as possible before making a decision. That moment came around the age of 16, just as she was beginning to break into the Southampton first team.

While playing for Southampton, she also balanced her A-Levels in Geography, Maths and Biology. 

Southampton roots

Kendall spent nearly a decade at Southampton, progressing from youth level into the senior side and becoming one of their standout performers. Across her time with the club, she made 103 appearances for the WSL 2 side, scoring 29 goals.

Her performances in the second tier did not go unnoticed. A summer move to Aston Villa marked her first step into the top flight, and she has become a mainstay of Natalia Arroyo’s side.

Dream debut moments

Kendall had already represented England at Under-15, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-23 levels, but this season brought her biggest milestone yet when she received her first senior call-up in October 2025.

She made an instant impression, picking up Player of the Match in her debut against Australia with a performance that saw her slot in seamlessly on the international stage.

A month later, another milestone. She scored her first senior goal against Ghana just six minutes into her second start, continuing a dream introduction to international football.

The moment was made even more special as the match was at St Mary’s Stadium, a club close to Kendall’s heart. Marking a memorable return to Southampton, Kendall celebrated her goal with a knee-slide that Wiegman jokingly said was “as if she had won the Champions League.”

She has been included in every England squad since

“I didn’t know who she was”

Kendall’s rapid rise has even surprised some of her own teammates. Lucy Bronze, England’s third-most capped player, admitted she had not heard of Kendall at the start of the season.

Speaking after a dominant win at Wembley, Kendall’s first time playing at the historic stadium, Bronze said: “It's been really fun with the new players coming in. I think Lucia is a great example.

“Someone who, to be honest with you, I didn't know who she was at the start of the season and I think she's got a huge future ahead of her. I think she's going to be one of England's stars of the future.

“Just seeing players like that step in and just enjoy themselves. I see them walking out at Wembley, looking up and seeing how crazy it is to be playing here - it gives someone like me a lot of excitement because it could become, not mundane, but just a little bit more normal for me.

“But being able to share in their experiences makes it more exciting for me and keeps the rest of us on our toes - we want to do our best for them but also want to stay in the team, because so many of them are so talented.”

Meanwhile, her Villa teammate Missy Bo Kearns added: "I'm really proud of Lucia, I've seen the growth of her and she deserves it because she works so hard. You can see it, her basics, what she's bringing for club and country. She's shining."

A star in the making

From cricket pitches in Hampshire to the bright lights of Wembley, Kendall has paved her own impressive path to becoming a Lioness.

For a player few had heard of before this season, she is quickly becoming a name nobody will forget.