PLAYER PROFILE: ALLYSON SWABY

Her first month as a Rossonere was interrupted by the international break, which saw her go to Kingston (Jamaica) and then Toronto (Canada) for two Olympic Games qualifying matches. Allyson Swaby, who recently turned 27, returned to the PUMA House of Football to play a part in the away fixture against Napoli, after recovering from the long trip over the Atlantic. Now, she is ready and determined to cement her place in the middle of the defence for the big match coming up with Juventus. The Jamaican captain made her AC Milan debut on 17 September in the opening game of the season at home to Roma, a 4-2 loss. It was at Roma in November 2018 where she first came onto the scene domestically and in Europe, following a short stint with Knattspyrnufélag Fjarðabyggðar in Iceland's third division. 

Against the Rossonere for the side from the capital, Swaby was involved in the 2021/22 Coppa Italia final success, won on penalties. Her performance on matchday 1 this season against her former team showed clearly why AC Milan wanted her for this and future seasons: solid, quick, alert, and often making timely interventions. She is a player that is very comfortable in an aggressive style of football, despite having to defend high up the pitch with lots of space in behind her. But because of her character and qualities, Allyson is able to do it, bringing the best out of her in these types of situations. 

In her journey that brought her back to Italy, and consequently AC Milan, she left the Giallorosse in January 2022 in search of success in the United States of America, where she was born - in Connecticut - and where she developed as a footballer with the Eagles at Boston College in Massachusetts. In the National Women's Soccer League, she made just four appearances for Angel City FC, a franchise that had actress Natalie Portman among its founding members and who our Club met up with during the recent pre-season tour in Los Angeles. Davide Calabria, Noah Okafor, Simon Kjær and Jan-Carlo Simić were all guests in fact at their game against the Portland Torns.

Swaby came back to Europe at the start of the 2022/23 season, signing on for Paris Saint-Germain, but found her time in the French capital limited. This season, though, she got back to finding success with the National team: the Reggae Girlz qualified for both the 2019 and 2023 World Cup Finals. Wearing the captain's armband, she was an instrumental figure thanks to her scoring the deciding goal that beat Panama, earning the Jamaicans a historic place in the Round of 16 and at the same time a first-ever win in the Women's edition. Now, her new Rossonere adventure is all set to take off.

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