Lewes sign World Cup Bronze Medal-winning pair Cross and Rouse

Lewes manager Simon Parker has made two impressive Deadline Day additions with former Under-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2018 Bronze Medal winners Zoe Cross and Mollie Rouse joining The Rookettes as reported on the club’s official website.

The arrivals of the midfield pair rounds-off a successful transfer window for Lewes boss Parker who has also added Nigerian international forward Ini Umotong and former Manchester City winger Lucy Ashworth-Clifford to his squad.

Former Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea academy star Cross joins The Rookettes following a spell playing out in the United States with the University of Missouri. The 22-year-old was named in the senior squad for former club Chelsea, occupying a place on the bench on a couple of occasions.

Fellow midfielder Rouse successfully made the step up from the England Under-20 squad to the Under-21s in 2019. Like Cross, she has also been playing her football in the United States with the player having studied at the University of Central Florida and at the University of Louisville. Rouse represented Aston Villa during their FA Women’s Super League 2 days prior to her move to America.

Cross and Rouse were members of the England Under-20 squad which reached the semi-finals of the Under-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2018. Rouse played the majority of England’s penalty shootout defeat to tournament hosts France in the Third Place play-off while Cross was an unused substitute.