Five years of Maisie Symonds at the Albion

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Women's team captain reflects on her Albion career.

Olivia Jackson

2026-01-28T16:15+00:00

Maisie is the longest serving player in our women's team. 📸 by James Boardman.

Maisie Symonds joined the Albion five years ago today [Wednesday].

She made her WSL debut in 2021 against Bristol City, going onto be appointed captain in summer 2025 at the age of 22.

Ahead of this weekend’s league fixture against London City Lionesses, Maisie answers five questions for five years at Brighton.

Let’s take it back to the very beginning, what was it like to sign for Albion?

Five years is a long time, and the club has been through so many phases of growth, it feels different to the Albion I joined in 2021. I came in January and it was freezing cold; we were training in Falmer.

I just remember going in and the girls were really lovely, I didn't know anybody. I was super nervous and my teammates really looked after me. Then I turned 18 in February, and I signed for the club.

Maisie became Albion captain in the summer of 2025. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

You made your debut against Bristol City; how did it feel to step out onto the pitch?

I don’t remember my debut at all, but I remember when I was first in the squad. I had just joined from Chelsea's academy and that first game we played them.

“I didn’t manage to get on the pitch, but we won the game, it was crazy to go and beat Chelsea at Kingsmeadow because they had not lost in 33 games. I remember that more vividly than I remember my debut.

What would you say is your favourite moment at Albion so far?

The end of last season when we achieved our best finish and played our last game against Arsenal at home. That was just such a nice memory, the team worked so hard last year, so that was probably one of my highlights but there have been so many!

You remember the funny little moments with your teammates more than the games themselves. When we are messing about in the gym, changing room or on the bus, things like that.

What was it like to become captain?

It was a little bit of a shock, but in such a short time I have learnt so much about being a leader within the team.

I feel so lucky to have teammates who believe in me and trust me to be that person. It is cool to be captain of this club.

The 22-year-old received her first call up for the England senior team in March 2025. 📸 By Paul Hazlewood.

If you could speak to young Maisie before signing for the club, what would you say to her?

Good question. There have been so many ups and downs, crazy moments that I would never have expected. I would tell her to enjoy these crazy, weird moments with your teammates.

I have been so lucky that I have been surrounded by really strong women over the past five years. So I'd say soak up all of their experience. Take in all the fun moments with your friends now. They are the friends that I will now have for the rest of my life.