Jordan Nobbs grateful to Arsenal for kickstarting her career at a young age | OneFootball

Jordan Nobbs completed a free transfer to Newcastle this summer

Jordan Nobbs has thanked Arsenal for giving her an opportunity in football at a young age with the club a lot more progressed than others when she first came to the WSL.

Nobbs first joined the WSL when she was just 17-years-old in 2010 but she has become one of the longest-serving stars since.

Jordan Nobbs’ role in grassroots

At the time of her arrival in the women’s top flight, things were very different for Jordan Nobbs than they are these days for the best of the best.

The 32-year-old remains a key part of the FA Grassroots campaign and Nobbs is keen to ensure young women in football receive equal opportunities with the game moving forward.

“I think it’s important to keep pushing grassroots football and the opportunities for everyone, because if you don’t have that grass pitch that you can go to down the road, or you don’t know where your local schools are to play football or join a team, then it won’t work.” Nobbs said.

“I think grassroots plays a massive part and allows opportunities in developing young kids into playing football, however far they want to go with it.”

Nobbs recently became the all-time record appearance holder in the WSL before leaving for Newcastle in the summer.

The veteran spent nine seasons with Arsenal before a brief stint at Aston Villa between 2023-2025.

“I was very lucky to join Arsenal when I was 17.” Nobbs continued. “They were a club that had grown very fast and probably faster than most other clubs.

“Football is what I love and what I want to do, but it comes with the consequences of, you know, there’s got to be some sacrifice in that job to be the best and get to as far as you want to go, really.

“So I’d say that I have seen a lot of players that I grew up with at England youth age groups who didn’t make it as far as you thought they would have, and that’s because of so many different circumstances, which is difficult.

Nobbs didn’t feature for Newcastle against Nottingham Forest in the opening game of their season.

The midfielder is closing in on a return to football having suffered from an injury towards the end of last season.