Nigerian-born football executive Lola Ogunbote has joined Chelsea FC Women as the club’s new Head of Football Operations & Player Services.
Ogunbote arrived from Burnley, where she spent almost five years and became the club’s first Head of Women’s Football in 2021. She worked across recruitment, player development, performance structures and the growth of Burnley’s women’s programme.
Her time at Burnley ended with the team winning the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division title and earning promotion last season. The club announced in June that she would leave at the end of the month.
At Chelsea, Ogunbote has already helped coordinate pre-season plans and handled logistical demands linked to WSL matches at Stamford Bridge and Champions League games at AFC Wimbledon.
Chelsea finished third in the WSL last season behind Manchester City and Arsenal and will look to return to the top.
Born in Nigeria, Ogunbote was raised in East London after moving to Britain as a baby.
She is also an executive director of US-based Goals for Girls, which uses football to create leadership opportunities for girls. In February 2026, she helped bring its programme to Surulere, Lagos, where 300 female students from 10 schools took part in football and leadership training.
In 2024, Ogunbote was named on the Football Black List in the administration category alongside Paul Elliott, Mark Esiri and Fleur Robinson.
