Zambia U-17 midfielder Jessica Choolwe Johnson earned her first call-up to the senior team of Aston Villa Women on Sunday.
The 16-year-old was on the bench for the first time in the Women’s Super League as Villa drew 0-0 with league leaders Manchester City.
Johnson made her debut for the Zambia U-17 Women’s National Team in March 2025 when the Copper Princesses thrashed Tanzania 3-0 in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup second-round, first-leg match at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam.
“It felt great, honestly,” Johnson said after her debut for Zambia. “For an individual, I am trying to build on playing more minutes but as a team I think we need to be more composed and less stressed, obviously score more goals and will win.”
The British-born midfielder has played four games for Zambia and, with this development, Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle, who has been keen on giving young players an opportunity in the senior team, could hand her a debut call-up.
Meanwhile, BolaNews established that Johnson was excused from the Zambia women’s national under-17 football team’s last matches due to her busy school schedule, although there has been no official confirmation yet from either FAZ or the player herself.
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