Passion is an irreplaceable quality. Aston Villa Women keeper Soffia Kelly embodies a love for the game at a higher level than most. In terms of what she has worked through and how she continues to make strides, it was nice to see Kelly's efforts recognized and further rewarded.
Having already been part of Wales' Euro qualification preparation, Kelly has now earned another call-up to the senior side of the Welsh team. The Villa keeper will be in a goal-keeping unit that includes Olivia Clark, Safia Middleton-Patel, and Poppy Soper.
Participating in the upcoming Nations League fixtures, Wales will play Denmark on May 30th and then host Italy on June 3rd. Currently in Group A4, they'll look to move up to avoid moving down a group later on.
That could be an issue for a later day, however. This pair of fixtures will serve as a tune-up. Wales is in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament that is set to take place this summer in Switzerland. For the Euros, they will play in Group D. They have been placed with France, England, and the Netherlands.
For Kelly, her inclusion for the more immediate Nations League fixtures and then potential on the squad for the European Championship would only further illustrate how her hard work and determination have paid off in a stellar young career to this point.
Early success with Aston Villa Women as well
Having been part of first-team activities and been a part of the matchday squad for the Villans, Kelly has played an important role as the keeper for the Under-21s, who ended up being the 2024/2025 PGA plate winners.
Now with this latest opportunity, Kelly continues to excel and show why Villa recently signed her to a professional contract, a move indicating the club's interest in keeping Kelly for a long time to come.