In the spotlight | Chloe Chivers
From making her senior Wales debut at 16 to almost retiring six years later following two ACL injuries, Swansea City's Chloe Chivers reflects on the highs and lows of her career so far following a memorable 2025-26 campaign.
Here, the midfielder discusses her early days in the Wales set-up, working with the likes of Jayne Ludlow and Jess Fishlock, her time in England with Oxford United, and the challenges of two serious injuries before bouncing back to enjoy a successful spell with the Swans, as well as gaining experience playing in the United States.
Chloe Chivers has enjoyed a standout season for the Swans, scoring 19 goals in all competitions to finish as the club’s top goalscorer, while also registering 16 assists. Her contributions helped secure a third-place league finish and a place in the club’s first Bute Energy Welsh Cup final since 2018.
She also finished as the second-highest goalscorer in the Adran Premier, behind Wrexham’s Katie Barker, and has been nominated for the Genero Adran Premier Player of the Season award.
However, it could have been very different for the midfielder, who suffered her first ACL injury during a UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifier in Ukraine while playing for Cardiff Metropolitan.
"The first injury came with Cardiff Met in Ukraine, about half an hour into the game. I knew straight away what had happened, but at the time there wasn’t as much information around injuries like that. I was fortunate to have surgery quickly through the NHS and worked hard on my recovery before joining Swansea.
"I knew players like Shauna Jenkins, Ellie Lake and Jess Williams at Swansea, and I was really close to them. I used to watch their games while I was out injured, and eventually I had a conversation with Ian Owen about joining. He had wanted to sign me when I was younger, and when the opportunity came, he was brilliant with me, giving me the support and foundation I needed to get back playing again."
Injury would strike again for Chivers, who suffered a second ACL injury in her other knee, which went undiagnosed for four months before she was told she would require another operation.
She admitted she was adamant she would not return to football, but the support of her family proved to be the key factor in her comeback. Continuing to play the game she loves ultimately opened the door to opportunities overseas.
"The second ACL injury was just unfortunate, on a difficult pitch in a cup game.
"I had always said if I did my ACL again, I wouldn’t come back, but at the time I had just lost my grandad and my nan wasn’t well. I used that as motivation the first time, and then when I got injured again, my nan encouraged me to go through with the operation and keep playing. Initially I didn’t want to, and I was close to retiring at 22, but my family got me through it, and I’m really glad they did.
“It gave me the opportunity to go out and play in America.
"While I was in my third year at the University of South Wales, Kath Morgan, who was coaching at the time, asked Taite Trivett about going out to the United States over the summer. I then asked if there were any coaching opportunities, and that’s how it came about.
"Kath had a good relationship with David Gough out there who was coach of Jacksonville Armada FC, and he was keen to bring in some Welsh players. We spent three months in the US playing summer football at under-23 level. The game was very fast-paced and athletic, but coming from Wales, we brought a strong footballing understanding, which created a good balance.
"It was a really valuable experience, both on and off the pitch.”
Reflecting on her early career, Chivers was involved in the Wales set-up from the age of 12 and enjoyed a number of standout moments in a Cymru shirt. She scored a second-half hat-trick for the under-17s against Latvia, before finding the net on her senior international debut against Finland at just 16 years old, while also having the opportunity to work under Wales and Arsenal great Jayne Ludlow.
“I had been involved with Wales from a young age, and myself, Ellie Lake and Jess Williams go back to around 12 years old when we were part of the under-15 set-up.
"Early in my career, I was involved with the Wales U17s, and I remember scoring a hat-trick when I was 15 against Latvia, coming off the bench. I was speaking to Claire O’Sullivan (head coach at the time) about it the other day, and she said she put me on at half-time and told me to go and score some goals. I ended up scoring three in that half, and she had no words for me afterwards. Then, just a couple of months later, I scored another hat-trick in the Faroe Islands.
"I then went to Coleg Y Cymoedd, which is the Wales academy, and that’s how I got my move to Cwmbran Celtic. I was playing alongside my Wales commitments while also being involved in the senior set-up. Playing senior football at 16 really helped me develop and make a name for myself as a young player." She said.
"Working under Jayne Ludlow was a great experience. I had known her since the regional set-up, and she brought me through the Welsh age groups, giving me opportunities I never thought I’d have. Being around such experienced players at a young age really helped my development, and it’s something I now try to pass on to the younger players in our squad.
"I was in college when I received the email from Claire telling me I had been called up to the senior squad. I actually told her to stop being ridiculous because I couldn’t quite believe it, but to go on and earn the caps that I did is something I’ll always be grateful for.
"I’ll never forget my senior debut. To come on as a substitute and score a header was incredible, I was in complete shock and didn’t even realise it had gone in at first. I remember Nia Jones being on the bench celebrating, and I just burst into tears.
"I also had the opportunity to play alongside players like Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle, Angharad James and Natasha Harding. They were brilliant with me, taking me under their wing and helping me along the way. To see what they’ve gone on to achieve in their careers is incredible, and I feel very fortunate to have shared the pitch with them.”
The midfielder then made the move to Oxford United at 18, where she enjoyed a successful season in WSL 2, the second tier of English football, scoring five goals in 19 appearances and finishing as the club’s second-highest goalscorer that campaign.
Although she did not relocate to the south east, she still had to contend with long journeys into the early hours. However, she believes it proved to be a valuable experience, playing in a high-quality side that aided her development as a young player.
"At first Wales saw me playing for Cardiff City Ladies, now Gwalia, but I think my move to Oxford at that time was the right one. I was fortunate enough to still live at home, but the travel was tough, making two-and-a-half-hour journeys twice a week. It meant I was spending a lot of time away, but it was a move I needed to make and one I’m glad I did.
"We had a really strong team at Oxford. Players like Emily Allen, who I later played with at Cardiff Met, were there, and Kayleigh Hines was a big influence on me, having come through Arsenal’s academy and played for Reading in the WSL. I also came up against top players like those at Manchester City, including Keira Walsh and Steph Houghton, so it was never easy. But being in that environment at such a young age, and having the support of the players around me, made it a really important period in my career."
She then returned to the Welsh game, joining Cardiff Metropolitan in 2018 after the Archers had lifted the Genero Adran Premier title the previous season, earning a place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Chivers admitted the prospect of European football, combined with the chance to return home, was a key factor behind the move.
However, her time with the club proved short-lived, due to the ACL injury she suffered during that European campaign.
"I returned to Wales to join Cardiff Met after Oxford. They had just won the league and were heading into the Champions League, and with the changes to the WSL 2 structure at the time, it made sense for me to come back closer to home.
"It was a strong squad with experienced players, and although my time there was short due to my ACL injury, the experience of being around that group and preparing for European competition was really valuable."
Following her return from injury, Chivers joined the Swans and enjoyed a hugely successful three-year spell, securing back-to-back-to-back league titles. She believes the squad’s experience, combined with a strong competitive mentality, was key to that success.
"My first three years at Swansea were incredible. We had a very experienced group, with a lot of players who had played in the league and the Champions League, and there was a real desire and competitiveness to be successful. We were an up-and-coming team at the time, and to achieve what we did over that period was special."
It proved to be a difficult 2024-25 campaign for the midfielder, who suffered a recurring knock at the start of the season and struggled to find consistent minutes. However, she remains incredibly grateful to Yzzy Taylor, who initially took charge on an interim basis before being appointed permanently ahead of this season, and credits her with helping her rediscover her enjoyment of football after a challenging couple of years, which has shown in her performances this season.
"I’ve really enjoyed this season. Last year was difficult for me with an injury that lingered and meant I wasn’t playing consistently. But when Yzzy took charge, I sat down with her and said I just wanted to enjoy my football again, and she’s helped me do that. I’m grateful for the contributions I’ve been able to make this season, but it’s also a credit to the staff and the players. We’ve developed a lot as a team.
"There have been some disappointing results, but we’ve got a very young squad coming through now. With some experienced players moving on, the average age of the group is quite young, but that brings its own positives and gives us a strong foundation to build on going forward.”