Emilie Joramo, the Norwegian midfielder, has long been fascinated by the Women’s Super League (WSL). Despite being aware of her talent, she held back from making a move from Scandinavia until now. In this in-depth interview, Joramo shares her journey, her goals, and what makes her a valuable asset to Brighton’s squad.

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For Joramo, the WSL has always been a dream destination. However, she was cautious about making the move too early in her career. ‘I’d been interested in the league for a long time now and it was a goal for me to get here one day,’ she explains. ‘I didn’t want to go too early, I wanted to feel ready for it both physically and mentally. Now, everything just felt right.’

Source: i.guim.co.uk

Brighton had been tracking Joramo’s progress for some time, and the encouraging conversations she had with the club’s manager, Dario Vidosic, made her feel more confident about joining the team. ‘It’s reassuring for me that they really wanted me,’ she says. ‘They hadn’t just watched a couple of games, they’d been following me for years, and that’s really important to me because I’m not going to jump at the first opportunity I get. I like to think things through and it has to feel right for me.’

A Journey of Growth

Joramo’s background in Norwegian football has been instrumental in her development as a player. Her time with Hammarby in Sweden, where she reached the Europa Cup final last season, and her stint with Rosenborg in her homeland, where she helped win the Norwegian Cup for the first time in 21 years, have been crucial in preparing her for the WSL.

‘I had so much fun at Hammarby and I’ve got so many good friends there,’ she says. ‘I grew both as a football player and as a person in those years. I didn’t feel ready when I was 21, when I went to Sweden, to come over here. I felt like I needed to play a bit more, to play every game, that was really important for me.’

Joramo’s patience and dedication have served her well. She is now ready to take on the challenges of the WSL and contribute to Brighton’s squad. ‘I think I can get challenged a lot here because things go much faster, the intensity is higher, you have a smaller amount of time when you have the ball,’ she says. ‘So, it’s a perfect place for me to be at now to be challenged further and develop my strengths but also the parts that I’m not as strong at and need to develop more.’

Adjusting to Life in England

Adjusting to life in England has been an adjustment for Joramo. ‘There’s so many people to get to know, the staff is so much bigger than what I’ve been used to,’ she explains. ‘So, instead of one physio you have five and you need to get to know everyone and get to know which person does which role. That’s always the way it is in a new team, of course, but it’s much bigger here.’

However, Joramo has been warmly welcomed by the team and has already started to feel at home. ‘Everyone has been very welcoming,’ she says. ‘I’ve only had two sessions with him so far, but Dario [Vidosic] seems very, very good at football tactics, how the game works, how to play good football, and that was important for me because I’m a player that wants to have the ball and always wants to try to get better and try to play good football together as a team, not only as individuals.’

Joramo’s girlfriend has also made the move to England, which has helped her settle into her new life. ‘I have to have other things to do besides football,’ she says. ‘We’ve been to the beach and have been exploring the city. It’s so different for me to live by the beach, I’m from the mountains and the woods. This is like a holiday for me, and with the weather as well, it’s been so warm. It’s really nice.’

As Joramo settles into her new life in England, she is eager to contribute to Brighton’s squad and help the team achieve its goals. ‘The goal now is to contribute as much as I can to this team and play as much as I can,’ she says. ‘I feel like I’m now in the place I want to be and develop in and I need to give it a bit of time in the beginning, because I can be very impatient.’

Joramo’s patience and dedication will be put to the test as she takes on the challenges of the WSL. However, with her talent, work ethic, and passion for the game, she is well-equipped to make a positive impact on Brighton’s squad and help the team achieve its goals.