Euro Trip: Season Edition (Ellie Christon)

Teesside-born full-back Ellie Christon explains her unlikely move from a decade at Durham to AP Orlen Gdansk, becoming one of the first English players in Poland’s top flight. After a serious stress fracture and an unsuccessful attempt to move to the United States, Christon signed with an Italian agent who identified Gdansk as an opportunity, drawn back partly by fond memories of a city break there in 2017. She discusses adapting to a new position, limited English among teammates, and Poland’s growing investment in the women’s game following the national team’s first-ever tournament qualification, while reflecting proudly on Durham’s rising attendances and competitiveness against bigger Championship rivals. At 31, Christon weighs up whether her future lies in continuing to explore Europe or eventually returning to finish her career back home.