Chelsea’s newest signing Giulia Dragoni fills us in on her footballing journey so far and how she likes to spend her time away from the sport.
Dragoni has completed a summer move from Barcelona to join the Blues, with the 19-year-old Italy international signing a contract until 2030.
After arriving at Cobham, our new midfielder answered some quick-fire questions to introduce herself and help the Chelsea supporters get to know her a bit better on and off the pitch.
### **Could you start by telling us where you grew up and what it was like?**
I grew up in Milan. I cannot complain about the city. It's a big city, but I wasn't living in the centre. I was a bit outside, so it was a bit calmer. It was nice.
### **What age did you start playing football?**
I have a brother who is six years older than me, so I think I started playing with him and my dad when I was around four years old.
### **What was the name of your first grassroots team?**
I started playing with the boys. It was actually my brother's team called Scarioni. I was five, almost six when I started with them.
### **How old were you when you first joined an academy?**
It was that one. I was five years old.
### **Who's been the biggest influence on your football career to date?**
I started because of my brother, but I think my dad was the one who pushed me to be the player I am. I was training with him more and more, even when the team was having a rest day.
I think my dad bought a lot of things to help my brother to train, but then he didn't want to train, so he said, 'Okay, then it's your turn'. And then I started training with my dad. I stopped playing with boys around the age of 13.
### **What's been your career highlight to date?**
I think one of the best highlights of my career was being called up the national team squad in 2023 to play the World Cup.
### **Who are your best friends in football?**
Her name is Manuela Sciabica and she plays for Lazio right now.
### **Could you name your top three favourite players of all time?**
I would say Marta, Alexia (Putellas) and Aitana (Bonmati).
### **Have you got any nicknames?**
When I was young, they called me Bimba because I was playing with older kids. Bimba means 'little one' in Italian.
### **What do you like to do away from football? How do you switch off?**
I will say first studying, because I really like knowing different cultures and other ways of thinking from people that come from other countries.
### **Are you watching any TV series currently?**
My favourite one is Prison Break, I'd recommend it!
### **If we looked at your Spotify playlist, who's dominating your most played artists of the year?**
My friends know that I am a big fan of Spanish music, but I can't give just one artist. I like Reggaeton and this type of music.
### **What are your top three holiday destinations, either that you’ve been to or want to visit?**
Not in order, but the first one that comes to mind is the Lofoten Islands in Norway. I went there in June, I think, and it was really nice. Amazing views...wow. I would like to go to Brazil and I loved when we went to New Zealand for the World Cup. So there's my three.
### **If you had guests over for dinner, what would you cook for them?**
I'm a good cook but I had to learn when I lived in Rome and had my apartment. Orange chicken is one of my best, but I can make homemade pizza as well.
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### **Tell the fans something they might not know about you...**
I'm the kind of person who always wants more from myself and I always try to be a better version of me, on and off the pitch.
### **What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?**
Never stop trying, be creative and take risks.
### **Finally, what does football mean to you?**
I cannot see my life without football. My whole life is football.
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