1. She's faced the Hammers before
Sunday 20 March 2022, the Goldstar Ground, 73rd minute. Sarah Brasero was sent on to the pitch by her then Ipswich Town boss Joe Sheehan to turn around a quarter-final Women’s FA Cup tie against West Ham United. Little did the Tractor Girl know, three years later she would be a Hammer.
Brasero, who made 43 appearances for the East Anglia side, scoring seven goals, was pictured battling against former Irons skipper Gilly Flaherty, while she also shared the pitch with current women’s team players Dagný Brynjarsdóttir and Halle Houssein.
On that afternoon, Lisa Evans’ 32nd-minute strike clinched a 1-0 win for the Hammers.
2. Another Young Lioness in Rehanne Skinner's squad
During her time at Ipswich, Brasero earned her first-ever international call-up. She received the news in November 2021 that she had been selected for England U19s and later made her debut in an Algarve Cup clash against the Netherlands, coming off the bench for Abbie Cowie.
Her first Young Lionesses goal came in February 2023 courtesy of a tidy first-time finish against Switzerland in the La Nucia International Tournament, in which England ran out resounding 3-0 winners.
After departing Ipswich and spending a season at then Barclays Women's Super League 2 side Lewes, Brasero, plying her trade with G.D. Estoril Praia in Portugal, was called up to England U23s for the first time - named in Emma Coates' final squad of 2024.
Her debut, in December 2024, against Sweden in Doncaster, came from the start as she replaced Elysia Boddy in the starting line-up prior to kick-off, but despite her best efforts Sweden edged the game 2-1.
3. England-West Ham connections
While representing England U23s, Brasero has become good friends with fellow Hammer Anouk Denton, who encouraged our latest addition to make the move to east London!
“We had a couple of conversations in camp, and she had nothing but good things to say about being here,” said Brasero, speaking to West Ham TV after signing for the Club. “I’m really excited to be here and to have the opportunity to play alongside her as well.”
Denton, who has 53 West Ham appearances to her name, is not the only player at the Club who Brasero already knows. When making her debut for England U19s, our new No21 was named in the same squad as Halle Houssein, who later changed her international allegiance to Turkey.
4. She's spent time abroad
Following a season at Lewes, Brasero, at only 19, decided to swap England for Portugal and make the move to Primeira Liga outfit G.D. Estoril Praia.
Playing for a season in Portugal’s top division, testing herself against the likes of Sporting CP and Benfica, Brasero accumulated eight goal contributions from midfield (five goals and three assists) from 23 appearances, as Estoril finished eighth in the standings.
Speaking on her time abroad, Brasero said: “On the pitch, it’s (playing in Portugal) a different style of play [to England], which I can definitely bring aspects of to West Ham. And also, off the pitch it was a different type of living. It brings you out of your comfort zone as well, so it's really good.”
5. Ready and raring to go
She’s spent time crafting her trade at Ipswich Town in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division, at Lewes in the WSL2 ,and furthered her game abroad. But now 20-year-old Brasero is ready to show the Barclays Women’s Super League what she’s capable of.
She said: “I’m ready for the challenge. I’ve got plenty of experience from my time here in England with Lewes and Ipswich, and now I’m ready to make that next step.”
