22 March 2024
Joe Echegini is celebrating her birthday a little differently today, this 22 March. The Nigeria international has only been at Juventus since January, already making a big impact on the pitch, and she took the occasion of her first birthday with the club to speak to us about her adventure so far.
“I’m really grateful for everything that’s happening,” Joe said. “It’s surreal in a way, but it’s a fantastic period and experience for me. So much has changed in my life, from being in college to having this opportunity here at Juventus, with great staff and in a team with incredible teammates.
“It’s a special time for me. I’ve had a lot of good experiences in my life but this is my first professional contract and the first time I’ve been on my own. College was different, now I’m learning a lot about myself as a footballer but mostly as a person. For example, I’m learning how to be on my own, I’m learning about the world and how to grow and to be independent, dealing with everything that happens to me. I’m learning Italian, which is a complicated language but I’m starting to know a few words. In short, I’m learning to become the best version of myself, as a player and as a person.”
HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TEAM
“I’ve arrived into a great group of women, who gave me a warm welcome, just like the staff did. I’m pretty shy, and here I really feel like I can be myself, and I love that. I’ve felt at home since day one here, and Juventus is an experience that I’ve embraced to the fullest from the first minute. I knew it was the right time to be here and it’s the right place for me.”
ON-FIELD GROWTH
“I’m working a lot, I’ve found a very different system here to what I had in America. We’re very focused on football here and that makes me grow a lot every single day. Looking back at when I arrived, I can already see I’ve made a lot of improvements since. I feel more comfortable as a player, and I remember feeling so happy with my first goal at Sassuolo.”
HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR FUTURE?
“Improved and grown up. I have to focus on football. I’d say that I want to make the most of the opportunities I have, to be even more consistent and effective on the pitch by scoring more goals and providing more assists to help my teammates."
