Southampton sign Chelsea forward Watson on loan

Southampton have completed the signing of forward Lucy Watson on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.

WSL Full-Time were informed of the news via an official club press release from The Saints this morning.

The 20-year-old joins Southampton off the back of winning the Barclays Women’s Championship title with Crystal Palace last season. Watson spent the 2023/2024 campaign on loan with The Eagles. She went on to make eight appearances for the club in league competition.

Watson started out with Sheffield United before being snapped up by Chelsea in summer 2020. The player was loaned out to Charlton Athletic for the 2022/2023 season but she sustained an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury early in her spell at The Valley.

The forward has the potential to be a top player and she will be hoping to help Southampton push for the Barclays Women’s Championship title this season.

After adding Watson to her Southampton squad, head coach Remi Allen said “It’s great to have Lucy on board with us. We’re excited to work with her and she’ll bring good depth to our attacking options this season.”

Watson could make her Southampton debut when the club travel to The Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground to face Sunderland on Sunday afternoon.