**I would like to apologise in advance for anything that i miss translate. I'm sorry if it offends anyone in any way***
Today is the big day.
Today i leave London, i leave my home for the first time in my life. Am i nervous? So nervous. Am i scared? Yeah, more than you know but i need to do this.
Today, i leave London, i say goodbye but say hello to Spain and say hello to Barcelona, my new club.
I woke up and got changed. I put on some nike joggers with one of Leah's hoodies. I put my necklace on and put my hair into a messy bun. I got my AirPods, phone and passport ready and had my rucksack in hand as well as my suitcase and boot bag.
As me and Leah, patiently waited on Viv and Lisa coming to pick us up. We just held each other.
"goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean i'll miss you, until we meet again"
Leah started crying, which made me cry.
"what if we can't do it. What if long distance ruins us. Ruins this!"
"then that's my fault. I'll take full blame for it, but it won't. Leah i won't stop loving you. Distance doesn't matter, i'll just love you from afar. I'll be back before you know it"
"i don't know how i'm going to do this"
"You know, I don't either. I really don't but i know it will be okay. I'll fight and i'll play for you. I'll make you proud"
"You already have"
Leah kissed me and that's the last 1 on 1 conversation we would have in person for a while.
Viv and Lisa came and me and Leah got into the back of their car. The journey was silent. Leah was crying into my shoulder and i was trying so hard to hold it together but as soon as we reached the airport. As soon as i stepped out of the car, i broke down. I couldn't hold it in anymore. Viv hugged me first.
"I'm proud of you meisje"
"Dank je, meisje"
Thank you, Girl
"ik hou van jou"
I love you
"ik hou ook van jou"
I love you too
I shared one last tight hug with Viv.
"lieke will look after you"
"I'll miss you Viv"
"I'll miss you too"
Next was my favourite Scottish girl, Lisa.
"Alright, no tears. I'm gonna miss you big time, kiddo. Go smash it, Yeah?"
"For you"
I smiled.
"I would like a wee tan soon, so maybe you can gift your favourite people a little trip to Spain?"
Lisa joked.
"You know i will do just that Lisa"
"See ya, kid"
I shared one last hug with Lisa and now it was Leah. We were both emotional wrecks, not letting go of each other.
"i just want to come with you"
"one day my love, one day. I'll invite you over. You visit me and i'll visit you"
Leah just kept crying into my shoulder.
"goodbyes aren't as painful when you know you're going to talk again"
"but- what if we don't?"
"we will. Unless, you end it because i won't"
"should i?"
Now me and Leah were talking about breaking up. Viv and Lisa were looking at the two young girls who are madly in love talk about their future.
"You can let me go, but i know i'll never let you go"
Leah remained silent.
"If you don't want to do this, don't. If you don't want to fight for us, don't. Just know, if you stay, we're in it for the long run. It's up to you my love, it's up to you"
"I want you. I want us and i want this. I'll fight tooth and nail for you, just like i said before"
"I love you, my love"
"I love you too baby"
"Take care of yourself, Yeah?"
Leah just nodded as i placed one last kiss on her lips. I pulled away from the hug and waved at the three girls. I lightly smiled but as soon as i turned my back, i started crying again. That was so much harder than i thought it would be.
I eventually got to my gate. I almost stopped and just ran back to them, so many times but i couldn't. I knew i couldn't. This is good for me. This will make me a better player. This is an opportunity i may never get again. This is an opportunity people dream of. This is an opportunity a lot of players don't get, but i did and i had to take it.
Barcelona are hands down the best team in the world. The ladies team is extraordinary and i need to take my game to the next level and i will do that with Barca.
******
My flight was a short one, it was an hour and fifty minutes. I listened to music the whole time and just looked out of the window. I tried to keep my mind away from London and away from the people i left behind because i knew i was going to cry. This isn't easy for me.
During the flight i took a photo of the sky from the window and posted it on my instagram story.
Until next time London✌🏻
******
I arrived, collected my bags and found the car that the club had organised for me. The driver took me to the training grounds where i would be signing my contract. I got out of the car, thanking the man. I arrived in the building with my suitcase, boot bag and rucksack.
"Hello, Welcome to FC Barcelona. I am Sara, i am guessing you are Sophie?"
"Yeah, nice to meet you Sara."
"You too. Your kit is in the locker room. You're number 19 and your locker is located next to Alexia Putellas and Lieke Mertens"
"Okay. Thank you"
I was told to change into the Barcelona training tracksuit so i did. I changed into it and signed my contract. I am an FC Barcelona Player. After i signed my deal i got pictures taken in the kits. I must say, the Champions league kit and the purple one. Wow😍.
Barcelona confirmed my singing and i posted about it as well.
@fcbfemeni
We are delighted to announce the singing of the young English star, Sophie Roberts on a two year deal. Welcome to the best club in the world❤️💙
@sophieroberts
#19
Estamos encantados de anunciar el canto de la joven estrella inglesa Sophie Roberts en un contrato de dos años. Bienvenidos al mejor club del mundo.
@sophieroberts
What a feeling! I feel so honoured and privileged to announce i will be playing in the colours of FC Barcelona for the next two years. Força Barça❤️💙
After everything was announced i met my new teammates. Thankfully for my sake, they could speak English. Although, i wasn't sure who i was going to be living with until i met them. I was going to be living with Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen.
I hadn't met Alexia when i met the rest of the girls. I met her after. I was sitting alone, putting Leah's jumper back on when i felt a hand on my shoulder. I shot my head up and saw the best player in the world, the latest Ballon D'or winner, Alexia Putellas.
"Hola, como estas"
Is how the spaniard greeted me. I kind of just looked at her, puzzled. Alexia just laughed.
"No Español?"
"No. Only English"
"That's a shame. Well, lucky for you, i'm quite fluent in English"
I chuckled a little.
"That's good"
"So, How are you settling in?"
"It's hard but i will be okay"
"Yeah, i understand that. Have you ever been away from London before?"
I shook my head.
"Never. London, born and bread. Never left, unless it's been for a game or international duty."
"How was leaving your family, friends and loved ones?"
"So hard. Me friends are my family, it was difficult but it was hardest leaving my girlfriend. Me and her haven't been apart for seven years. We met at fourteen and have been stuck together ever since"
"Well, i'll make you feel at home here. The girls are so nice. You're my best friend now. Right, kid?"
I laughed lightly at this. Alexia put her arm around me.
"Yeah. You're my best friend now too"
"Now, Caroline will try and steal you but you're mines"
"Only yours"
"Good. Let's go home, kid"
"Let's go"
I have a good feeling about this.
******
Me and Alexia arrived at her home, my new home. The girls left me to it. Once i had unpacked i went downstairs to the living room and sat with them on the sofa.
"velkommen til ditt nye hjem, sophie. Jeg håper ikke Alexia plager deg for mye"
Welcome to your new home, Sophie. I hope Alecia does not bother you too much.
Yet again, for the second time today, i was left looking at one of my new teammates completely unaware of what they were trying to say to me.
"Por el amor de Dios, Caroline. Sophie habla inglés, no noruego"
For god sake, Caroline. Sophie speaks English not Norwegian.
Confused. Again.
"guys, i have no idea what you're saying"
"it's okay Sophie. Caroline has seemed to forget that you speak English not Norwegian or Spanish"
"Well, what i was trying to say was, Welcome to your new home, Sophie. I hope Alexia isn't bothering you too much"
I laughed but Alexia death stared Caroline.
"Hansen, me and Sophie are already best friends so mind your place"
"Sophie!"
Caroline said, sounding hurt.
"Yeah, sorry Caroline"
"Another question for you kid"
"shoot"
"what?"
"Oh like, go"
"What languages do you speak?"
"English and i can speak a little dutch"
"So you can understand Lieke?"
"Yeah. I can understand her"
"I can't. It's so hard"
Alexia said.
"Meh. I hate learning languages but it's not that hard"
"Wait! Let's play a game, you say somethings in Dutch and me and Hansen will try and guess. Five rounds, person with the most points wins?"
"You're on Alexia"
I laughed at their competitiveness but agreed to it.
"Okay, ready?"
Both girls nodded their heads.
"Hallo hoe gaat het?"
"I know! I know!"
Alexia shouted. I nodded at her, indicating for her to tell me.
"Eh, Hello?"
"Yeah but there's more to it"
"Hello, How are you?"
Graham answered.
"Correct, 1-0"
"ik spreek Engels"
"I speak English"
Alexia answered, instantly.
"No what! That's not fair! You need to say you know before you just shout the answer!"
"We're not in school Hansen!"
"that was good. 1-1."
"Hoi"
"Hi!"
Alexia yelled.
"Correct, 2-1"
"Voetbalclub"
"FOOTBALL CLUB"
Caroline yelled. I laughed.
"Correct. 2-2. Last one."
"ik houd van je"
After a couple of minutes of them guessing random things, they wanted a clue.
"The first word is I"
"i know!"
Alexia said.
"I love you"
"Why thank you Alexia, i love you too"
Alexia smiled.
"Take that Hansen. Take that!!"
"Shut up! You are sucking up to the newbie because everyone else finds you annoying"
"Don't mind her. She doesn't like losing"
"Either do you, Alexia!!"
"Yeah, of course i don't!"
I was just sat laughing.
******
The last thing i did today was post one last time on instagram.
@sophieroberts
es que Alexia Putellas! ¿El mejor futbolista del mundo?
(Is that Alexia Putellas! Best footballer in the world?)
alexiaps94 - ¡Sophie Roberts! ¿El mejor jugador joven del mundo? ¡Estrella en ciernes!
(Sophie Roberts! Best young player in the world? Star in the making!)
^you tell me Putellas⭐️
graham95 - Thought it was only English and some Dutch🤔
^Alexia helped with the caption. I'm not quite fluent yet.
viviannemiedema - Spanish?
^The caption was definitely not wrote by me. Alexia translated it for me😅
lisaevans_17 - Looking good Chick!
^missing you loads my favourite little Scottish gal!
bethmead_ - come back?
^soon my bethy. Soon🥰
jordannobbs - Arsenal misses our kid❤️
^their kid misses Arsenal. One day i'll be back Jords. One day❤️
katie_mccabe11 - Already got the sun tan🙄
^Aww, Katie is jealous. I'll ship you over some sun bed tickets, yeah?🥰🥰
leahwilliamsonn - 😍😍😍
^my absolute favourite. Missing you my love🤍
stephcatley - maybe when you come back you will see how cold England really is!
^You're just soft, stephy❤️
liawaelti - missing my little scorer who helps me rank up the assist count❤️🔥
^missing my midfield maestro✌🏻
caitlinfoord - my little English kid🪄
^my aussie⚽️ Sorry, @stephcatley, love you🖤
kimlittle1990 - miss seeing you run the show!
^missing you cap!
keirawalsh - my little champ! Show what you can really do!
^My Mancunian💙
lucybronze - my training partner❤️
^can't wait to be back at camp!
lauren_hemp - Okay!! Barca tho🔥🔥
^You next? Missing you, hungry, hungry hempo.
stanwaygeorgia - okay, go off🔥🔥
^right back? New position?
ellieroebuck_ - 😍😍champ
^keepers!!
liekemartens - So happy i have someone who understands me when i speak Dutch😅
^You have Viv to thank for that👊