Women’s Super League: Brighton midfielder Lia Walti ‘missed feeling of being valued’

Walti said she is “passionate” about pushing for change because she is privileged to have experienced professionalism in England.

“We used to not have good conditions. It wasn’t professional. Our first salaries were not enough to live from,” said Walti.

“Now, seeing the growth in England and being with players who try to push the game in their own countries, it makes you feel frustrated to still see the reality.

“You forget sometimes, when you’re in your own bubble, that this is not the norm. You’re just one of the lucky ones who can experience it.

“A lot of talent in women’s football gets lost because they are in bad environments where nobody sees them or they don’t have the chance to reach their potential.

“I try to make an impact and I think that was really hard in Italy because I felt like when we spoke up, nothing happened, and that was frustrating.”

When Walti was weighing up her future, with a year left on her Juventus contract, she knew Brighton were a club who could offer her a quality environment.

In April, Brighton released their plans for Europe’s first purpose-built women’s football stadium, which will cost £75-80m.

In 2021, the women’s team moved into their training facilities at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre – the result of an £8.5m investment.

On the pitch, they have invested during the transfer window and reached the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in May.

Dario Vidosic’s side have ambitions of breaking into the WSL’s top three and Walti believes she has joined a club “that cares” about women’s football.

“After that experience in Italy, I knew a bit more about what I probably wanted, or didn’t want,” said Walti.

“I had a pretty big trust in Brighton before we had the conversations because I had been in the league and seen what the club was doing.

“I’ve heard from other players about the club investing a lot and I only heard really positive things. There is no better feedback than from other players.

“Once I started to have the first moments with the club, it proved to me that this is the right place – that cares about women’s football, that invests in women’s football, and who has the right people in place.”