Ellie Brazil: Southampton’s summer recruit inspiring their promotion goal

Ellie Brazil plays as a forward for Southampton FC Women. Having joined the Saints in the summer, she is an exciting prospect who is wonderful with the ball at her feet.  

She has been capped for England throughout her youth (from under-15 to under-23 level), proving her to be a confident player. 

Club-wise, she currently plays for Southampton in the Barclays WSL 2 (the second tier of women’s football in England). Her journey is certainly a testament to her hard work and determination beyond the pitch.

Brazil gained valuable experience as a youngster in the top divisions of both English and Italian football, with Birmingham City and Fiorentina respectively.

A debut with the Seagulls

In July 2018, the young forward joined Brighton and Hove Albion Women, making her debut on the opening day of the 2018/19 season. Sixteen months after signing for the Seagulls, Brazil suffered an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.

A mere thirteen months later (December 2020), she marked her return from injury, coming on to play the last thirty-one minutes in their fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. 

She went on to make over fifty appearances for the Seagulls, becoming a highly reliable player and showcasing her talent.

A move to North London 

Joining Tottenham in July 2022 on a two-year deal, Brazil was geared up for a league campaign in her new colours. Unfortunately, those dreaded three letters struck for a second time as Brazil injured her ACL again. 

With such a long period on the sidelines, the striker did not really have her opportunity to shine in Lilywhite: she only registered nine appearances with the club across all competitions.

However, she did not let the two unfortunate ACL injuries put her footballing career to an early end.

A new chapter with Charlton

In 2024, Brazil joined Charlton Athletic, signing a one-year contract with the club. Despite being particularly unlucky with injuries, she had an excellent season. In fact, she was named both Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year at the end of season awards, slotting in seamlessly.

She managed to score eight goals (averaging one every two games) in an outstanding campaign for the Addicks. This is testament to her prominent attacking threat and intelligent movement in-between opposing backlines.

Another new challenge 

At the end of the 2024/25 season, Brazil decided to make another move: this time to the south-coast. The striker joined Southampton FC and immediately made her mark on the Barclays WSL 2 club.

Her first goal with the Saints came in the league, during a tight 4-4 draw with Crystal Palace, a thrilling encounter. Having a superb start to life at St. Mary’s and providing a bright spark to the Saints’ attacking line, Brazil is certainly a player to watch as the season progresses. Five matches in, she has already registered over 360 minutes, with one goal and two assists in red and white.

The WSL 2 season is shaping up to be a closely fought contest, with an inevitable title fight. This season at least the top two teams will automatically be promoted to the Barclays Women’s Super League, with a third qualification place up for grabs. As she increases her goal tally for Southampton, this could prove the key to regaining their place in the top-flight of English football.