Chelsea midfielder Akpan returns from Southampton loan spell | OneFootball

Chelsea midfielder Ashanti Akpan has returned to the club from her loan spell at Southampton ahead of schedule.

The Blues announced the news via a post on their official club website this afternoon.

The 20-year-old was set to spend the entire season at St Mary’s Stadium, however, the deal has been terminated at the halfway point. In her time with Southampton, Akpan made 13 appearances for the club in all competitions.

The midfielder has been on Chelsea’s books since the age of seven. She signed her first professional deal with the club in 2023. Akpan made her senior debut for The Blues in an Adobe Women’s FA Cup tie against Reading in March 2023.

The last couple of seasons have been about Akpan getting regular game-time. She spent time on loan at Birmingham City last season and has furthered her development with Southampton in the first half of this campaign. It is unlikely that Akpan will get minutes back at Chelsea in the second half of the season therefore she could again find herself building her experience away from South West London.

Akpan signed a new one-year contract with Chelsea last summer. It is not yet known whether the arrangement will be extended into 2027.