Lois Joel Explained

Lois Joel
Fullname:Lois Kathleen Joel
Birth Date:1999 6, df=yes
Birth Place:North Finchley, England
Position:Defender / Forward
Currentclub:London City Lionesses
Clubnumber:22
Youthclubs1:Watford
Youthclubs2:Arsenal
Youthclubs3:Chelsea
Collegeyears1:2017–2018
College1:West Virginia Mountaineers
Collegecaps1:33
Collegegoals1:1
Collegeyears2:2019
College2:North Carolina Tar Heels
Collegecaps2:25
Collegegoals2:0
Years1:2020–2022
Clubs1:West Ham United
Caps1:13
Goals1:0
Club-Update:10 February 2021
Years2:2022–
Clubs2:London City Lionesses
Caps2:34
Goals2:2
Nationalyears1:2016
Nationalteam1:England U17
Nationalcaps1:5
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2017
Nationalteam2:England U19
Nationalcaps2:2
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalteam-Update:27 January 2021
Nationalyears3:2024–
Nationalteam3:Wales
Nationalcaps3:2
Nationalgoals3:0

Lois Kathleen Joel (born 2 June 1999) is a Welsh footballer who plays as a defender for London City Lionesses.[1] Joel has represented England internationally at under-17 and under-19 level.

Early life

Joel grew up in the London suburb of North Finchley and attended St Michael's Catholic Grammar School. She played football in the youth systems of Watford and Arsenal before joining the Chelsea academy and was a member of the team that won the 2016–17 FA WSL Academy League Southern Division title.[2] She was involved in one senior matchday squad, an unused substitute on 2 July 2016 as Chelsea were eliminated by second-tier London Bees on penalties in the first round of the 2016 WSL Cup.[3]

College career

In August 2017, Joel enrolled at West Virginia University. She played college soccer for two seasons with the West Virginia Mountaineers, making 33 appearances all as a substitute and scoring one goal and one assist. The Mountaineers won the 2018 Big 12 Conference Women's Soccer Tournament and earned berths to the NCAA College Cup both years.[4]

In May 2019, Joel transferred to North Carolina to play for the Tar Heels. She was signed on the recommendation of England youth national team teammates Lotte Wubben-Moy and Alessia Russo who had been with the Tar Heels since 2017. Having played multiple positions with West Virginia, Joel was noted by head coach Anson Dorrance for her pace, fitness and versatility. In her first season with the team, Joel made 25 appearances including eight starts and registered eight assists.[5] The Tar Heels won both the 2019 ACC regular season and 2019 ACC Tournament, and finished runners-up in the 2019 NCAA College Cup final.[6]

Club career

West Ham United

On 2 October 2020, Joel returned to England amid uncertainty around the US college season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and signed a short-term contract with FA WSL team West Ham United. She signed on non-contract terms in order to preserve her final year of college eligibility.[7] [8] She made her debut on 18 October as a 73rd-minute substitute for Laura Vetterlein in a 4–2 WSL loss to Manchester United.[9] [10] Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Joel signed a one-year contract extension.[11]

International career

Youth

Joel has represented England at under-17 and under-19 level. She competed at the 2016 UEFA U-17 Championship as England topped the group by winning all three of their group stage games before losing to Germany in the semi-finals. They beat Norway in the third-place playoff, qualifying the team for the 2016 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jordan. Joel made one appearance at the World Cup in a 3–0 quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Japan.

On 18 October 2017, Joel scored her first international goal at under-19 level during a 9–0 win over Kazakhstan in 2018 UEFA Under-19 Championship qualification.[12]

Senior

In 2024, Joel was called up to the Wales national team and received her first cap in a 2–0 win against the Republic of Ireland in February 2024.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United2020–21FA WSL503040120
2021–221003040170
Total1506080290
London City Lionesses2022–23Championship1902030240
2023–241523041223
Total3525071463
Career total492110150753

Honors

College

West Virginia Mountaineers

2018[13]

North Carolina Tar Heels

2019

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lois Joel – Soccerway Profile. 2021-01-27. int.soccerway.com.
  2. Web site: Chelsea Academy . fulltime-league.thefa.com.
  3. Web site: London Bees 3 Chelsea 3 (4–2 on pens). Chelsea FC.
  4. Web site: Lois Joel – Women's Soccer profile . West Virginia University Athletics.
  5. Web site: Lois Joel – Women's Soccer . University of North Carolina Athletics.
  6. Web site: Stanford beats North Carolina in all-time classic for the 2019 women's College Cup title. www.ncaa.com.
  7. Web site: West Ham United sign Lionesses youngster Lois Joel . www.whufc.com.
  8. Web site: Ranson. Jacob. 2020-10-02. West Ham United sign Lionesses youngster Lois Joel. 2021-01-27. Barking and Dagenham Post.
  9. Web site: West Ham 2–4 Man United . womenscompetitions.thefa.com . en.
  10. Web site: Lois Joel: I was buzzing to make my debut . www.whufc.com.
  11. Web site: Lois Joel signs West Ham United Women's contract extension . www.whufc.com.
  12. Web site: England-Kazakhstan Women's Under-19 . UEFA.com.
  13. Web site: WVU Captures 2018 Big 12 Championship . big12sports.com.