By Ghazali Ibrahim
British-Nigerian football administrator Lola Ogunbote has taken another major step in her football career after joining Chelsea Women as Head of Football Operations and Player Services.
Ogunbote, who previously spent almost five years at Burnley Women, has already begun working behind the scenes at Chelsea, where she has been involved in the club’s preparations and matchday operations.
Her new role places her at the centre of Chelsea Women’s football operations, with responsibilities covering the organisation of the team and player services.
She was involved in Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand, as well as the operational arrangements surrounding the club’s Women’s Super League matches at Stamford Bridge and Champions League fixtures at AFC Wimbledon.
Before entering football, Ogunbote, a UK-qualified lawyer, worked at Goldman Sachs. She left the corporate sector in 2016 and subsequently joined Arsenal’s Gap Year programme, beginning a journey through coaching, player development and football operations.
In 2021, she joined Burnley as the club’s first-ever Head of Women’s Football, helping oversee recruitment, player development, performance structures and the wider growth of its women’s football programme.
Her Burnley spell ended on a high, with the women’s side winning the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division title and securing promotion last season.
Born in Nigeria and raised in East London after moving to Britain as a baby, she has remained involved in initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for girls through football in Africa.
In February 2026, she helped bring the Goals for Girls leadership and football programme to Surulere, Lagos, where 300 female students from 10 schools took part in football and leadership activities.
Her work in football administration had already earned her recognition on the 2024 Football Black List, where she was honoured in the administration category.
The Chelsea move now gives Ogunbote a bigger platform at one of the most successful clubs in women’s football.
Ogunbote described the move as a new chapter in her career, saying she was thrilled to join Chelsea Women and expressing gratitude to the club’s leadership, mentors and others who supported her decision.
