Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie continues to attract attention in England after climbing to the top of the Women’s Super League (WSL) saves chart and earning a nomination for the PFA WSL Fans’ Player of the Month award for September, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Brighton & Hove Albion shot-stopper, who joined from Paris FC in the summer, has been outstanding in her debut WSL season, registering 22 saves in five matches — the most in the league so far. She narrowly edges Leicester City’s Janina Leitzig (21 saves) and London City Lionesses’ Elene Lete (19).
League statistics also show that Nnadozie has kept two clean sheets, ranking among the division’s most consistent goalkeepers. Only Tottenham’s Lize Kop and Manchester United’s Phallon Tullis-Joyce have managed more, with three each. Her performances have been crucial to Brighton’s impressive start, with the Seagulls currently sixth on the WSL table.
Brighton will next face West Ham United in the Women’s League Cup on Wednesday before a daunting trip to European champions Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
Nnadozie’s impact has not gone unnoticed, as she joins an elite shortlist for the PFA WSL Fans’ Player of the Month, alongside Chelsea’s Aggie Beever-Jones, Manchester United’s Melvine Malard, Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, Manchester City’s Bunny Shaw, and Tottenham’s Cathinka Tandberg.
Her performances in September were particularly impressive, helping Brighton secure seven points from four matches, including a clean sheet on her debut against Aston Villa and a series of brilliant saves in the draw with Manchester City. Across those fixtures, she made 16 crucial saves, showcasing her reflexes, composure, and command of the box.
Her latest outing against Tottenham saw her add six more saves, denying Tandberg, Bethany England, Eveliina Summanen, and Toko Koga multiple times, though she could do little to prevent Tandberg’s first-half strike in a narrow 1–0 defeat.
This latest recognition further cements Nnadozie’s reputation as one of the world’s brightest goalkeeping talents. The 24-year-old enjoyed a stellar 2025, winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria — where she was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament — and making history as the first African goalkeeper nominated for the Women’s Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or. She eventually finished fourth, marking a major milestone for African women’s football.
Despite her early success in England, Nnadozie admitted that adjusting to life in Brighton has been emotionally challenging. Speaking in Nike and VERSUS’ “Nothing Off the Table” film, she revealed:
“It has not really been easy because people just see you come out on the field to play; they don’t know the struggles behind. Since I moved to Brighton, every day I cry because I feel lonely. I miss my family, my teammates, and coaches. They always try to check up on me to make sure I’m okay.”
She credited Brighton’s coaching staff and players for helping her settle in, adding:
“I think the most important thing is having people who really care about you. That has helped me a lot. Going to pre-season with the team also helped — the unity, everything I saw in the team was really good.”
Brighton manager Dario Vidosic praised Nnadozie’s professionalism and leadership, calling her Ballon d’Or recognition “a fantastic achievement for the club and for women’s football.”
“As a club, squad, and everyone involved in the women’s programme, we’re incredibly proud of her. It’s a tremendous honour to be recognised among the most prestigious awards in world football,” Vidosic said.
Just months after helping Nigeria lift a record 10th WAFCON title, Nnadozie’s rise in England underscores her growing global stature — a true symbol of African excellence between the posts.
