Jenna Dear - Welcome to Everton Ladies

New signing Jenna Dear says she cannot wait to for the season to start after linking up with her new Everton teammates.

The 19-year-old midfielder swapped 2015 WSL 1 Champions Chelsea for the Blues earlier this month and is relishing the opportunity of first team football.

Dear spent half of the previous campaign at fellow WSL 2 side Watford and played against Everton twice. As such, she is well aware of the quality within the squad, and is eager to be a part of Andy Spence’s group.

“I was on loan at Watford and played about 10 or 11 games so I know the division,” said Dear. “I played against Everton twice and you could tell from those games just how good the players were here.

“Everton beat Watford 3-0 up at Widnes and that showed how strong they were. They weren’t just beating teams - they were scoring three or four goals, which is great.

“This a new opportunity for me to play first team football. After I met Andy, there was no other option – I wanted to come to Everton.

“You look at the players that he has produced. What better way to improve than by going to a very good team under a good manager.

“I just want to play football and at Everton I feel like I am going to have a better opportunity to do that. I feel like I fulfil my potential here.”

Dear will live with fellow midfielder Kelly Jones initially and hopes to settle into the squad quickly following her switch.

“It should be quite easy to settle in hopefully,” she added. “I know Gabby George and Millie Turner through playing for England. I have been to Under-19 camps with them for quite a few years now.

“I’m quite an outgoing person so hopefully I can get to know the girls quite quickly – and hopefully they like me!

“I’m really looking forward to moving up to Liverpool. I am only 19 so I wanted to grab this opportunity with both hands and see what happens.

“I can’t wait to get up to Liverpool and get the season started.”