Millie Chandarana

Millie Chandarana
Chandarana with Blackburn Rovers in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-03-11) 11 March 1997
Place of birth Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Burnley
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Blackburn Rovers
2016–2019 Loughborough Foxes
2019–2020 Tavagnacco 16 (1)
2020–2021 San Marino 22 (0)
2021–2024 Blackburn Rovers 57 (2)
2024–2025 Nottingham Forest 20 (4)
2025– Burnley
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Millie Chandarana (born 11 March 1997) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Burnley. Besides England, she has played in San Marino, the United Arab Emirates, and Italy.[1]

Early life

Chandarana was born in Rotherham to a Gujarati Indian father and an English mother.[2][3] She took part in a trial to join her school's all-boys football team at eight years old and was initially told to join a local girls' team instead after scoring in the wrong goal, but started playing for the school team a few months later.[4] She later attended the Manchester United Girls Academy, playing for the club up to under-15 level despite being a Manchester City fan.[5][4]

Club career

Chandarana played for youth teams at Blackburn Rovers before making her debut for the senior team in 2014 at age 17.[6][7] She made a total of 18 appearances for the club before moving on in 2016.[8] While at university in Loughborough she played for both the university team and Loughborough Foxes.[9] She had a spell at Leoni FC in Dubai in 2018 during her university placement year before returning to Loughborough and leading the university's first team to the finals of the National Championship.[4]

Upon graduation, Chandarana had planned to continue her studies in the USA, but instead contacted several football clubs based on a "gut instinct" about her career path, and received an offer from Italian side UPC Tavagnacco.[9] She played for the club as they battled to avoid relegation from Italy's first division Serie A in the 2019-20 season.[10] In 2020 Chandarana transferred to San Marino Academy, also in Serie A.[8]

In 2021, Chandarana returned to Blackburn Rovers, becoming the first British South Asian woman to sign a professional contract with the club, and the only British South Asian woman with a professional deal in the Women's Championship.[7][11][12] She won Blackburn Rovers Goal of the Season for two consecutive seasons and helped the club achieve their highest ever league finish in the 2023-24 season.[13] She also featured in the 2023-24 British South Asians in Football Team of the Season, playing in a celebratory showcase fixture to mark South Asian Heritage Month after the conclusion of the season.[14]

Following criticism of Blackburn Rovers for cutting funding to their women's team, Chandarana transferred to Nottingham Forest in the third division National League, signing a one year contract with the club in 2024.[5][15] In her one season at Forest, Chandarana contributed to the team achieving a league and cup double, and earning promotion to the Championship.[16][17]

In July 2025, Chandarana signed with Burnley.[9]

Personal life

Chandarana graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science.[5] While studying, she was required to undertake a placement year, during which she worked as a P.E. teacher in Spain and as a wellness coach in Dubai.[9] In 2023, she began studying for an MSc in Football Business with the Global Institute of Sport, supported by the South Asians in Football Leadership Scholarship, of which she was the first recipient.[18][19][20]

References

  1. ^ "British south Asian footballer Millie Chandarana shares her life". British Asian Women's Magazine. britishasianwomensmagazine.com. 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ Kohli, Chaitanya (22 March 2024). "South Asian women and football: In conversation with Millie Chandarana". Sports Gazette. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Millie Chandarana: I grew up not knowing any other Asian footballers". BBC News. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Balla, Reemul (17 June 2020). "Millie Chandarana: 'If you're Asian or English, boy or girl, go out and play'". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c Burhan, Asif (1 February 2025). "Millie Chandarana Aims To Take Unbeaten Nottingham Forest To WNL Title". Forbes. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Chandarana delighted to be back where it all began". Blackburn Rovers FC. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b Trehan, Dev (8 January 2022). "FA Women's Championship: Blackburn Rovers will deliver in second half of the season, says Millie Chandarana". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b Sohal, Balraj (4 February 2022). "5 top British Asian female footballers you should know". Desi Blitz. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d "Members in focus: globe-trotting double winner Millie Chandarana". Women in Football. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ Clancy, Conor (30 April 2021). "Millie Chandarana: overcoming obstacles, scoring against Juventus and increased competitiveness in Serie A". Forza Italian Football. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ Naicker, Subhasini (3 April 2024). "Acceptance and support to pave the way for South Asian women in football". Asian Voice. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  12. ^ Chaudhary, Maryam; Kotecha, Tejas (18 July 2022). "Rupinder Bains, Manisha Tailor and Millie Chandarana discuss leadership with Julia Gillard". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  13. ^ Trehan, Dev (29 April 2024). "South Asians in Football Weekly: Millie Chandarana enjoys magical end to Blackburn season, Kira Rai and Layla Banaras dazzle". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  14. ^ Trehan, Dev (11 July 2024). "Millie Chandarana says it's an honour to be among the best South Asians in football following Blackburn Rovers exit". Sky Sports. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Nottingham Forest sign former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Chandarana". WSL Full-time. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2026 – via Yahoo Sports.
  16. ^ "Forest's Glory Night: FA WNL Cup triumph and another bold step towards sustainability". E.on Energy. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Promoted Forest plan to 'hit ground running'". BBC Sport. 28 April 2025. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  18. ^ "GIS student on balancing professional football career alongside her studies". Global Institute of Sport. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  19. ^ Medlicott, Phil (26 April 2024). "Millie Chandarana aiming to provide real-life 'Bend It Like Beckham' role model". The Independent. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  20. ^ "South Asians in Football: Blackburn Rovers star Millie Chandarana lands world-first scholarship". Sky Sports. 23 November 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
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