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The 27-year-old Kirby, who was the inaugural
winner of the honour in 2018, scored 25 goals and provided 18
assists in all competitions to help Chelsea win the FA Women's
Super League title and reach the Champions League final.
Chelsea revealed last year that the England international had
been out of action since November 2019 because she had been
diagnosed with a heart condition called pericarditis.
She returned after six months on the sidelines.
Kirby's personality and attitude had unified fans and media
professionals, said Jen O'Neill, the chair of the FWA's women's
sub-committee.
"To have overcome a serious health condition and return in such
sparkling form is admirable and inspiring," O'Neill said in a
statement http://footballwriters.co.uk/editorial/fran-kirby-is-womens-footballer-of-the-year.
"Several players, including many of her Chelsea team mates, have
been outstanding in a superb WSL season but there are fewer more
joyful sights in football than a smiling, fit and firing Kirby."
The winner is chosen by a panel of more than 30 experts who
specialise in the women's game.
Kirby can help Chelsea add to their trophy haul, which also
includes the League Cup, when the club face Barcelona in
Sunday's Champions League final in Gothenburg, Sweden.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by
Christian Radnedge)
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