Lois Joel
Lois Kathleen Joel (born 2 June 1999) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for FA WSL club West Ham United. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 . She made her debut on 18 October as a 73rd-minute substitute for Laura Vetterlein in a 4–2 WSL loss to Manchester United. Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Joel signed a one-year contract extension. International career. Youth. Joel has represented England at under-17 and under-19 level. She competed at the 2016 UEFA Women's Under-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 Women's 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 Women's Under-19 Championship qualification. Honors. College. West Virginia Mountaineers North Carolina Tar Heels