Apollon, who had already been crowned champions mathematically, suffered a 4–1 defeat to Aris Limassol in their last outing, but still finished top of the five-team league with 39 points.
The champions won 12 matches and drew three, ending the campaign with an impressive goal difference of +44.
Lucia came off the bench in the second half of Apollon’s final match of the season.
The versatile Maltese player, capable of playing both in defence and midfield, will now return to Malta to join the senior national team for the upcoming international window, with Malta set to face Northern Ireland women’s national football team in two matches later this month.
Lucia had already featured in Malta’s opening matches against Türkiye and Switzerland with Malta losing both encounters.
She will then return to Cyprus where Apollon will be chasing a domestic double when they face Aris in the cup final on April 24.
Lucia joined Apollon in October on a one-year deal after previous spells in Poland with Gdańsk, in Italy with Genoa, and in Croatia with Split and Osijek.
Speaking to the Times of Malta, Lucia described the experience as one of the most important of her career.
“It has been an incredible experience and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity. The team is extremely disciplined and the training quality is top level. We’re talking about Players of the Year from major American colleges, players who came through the academies of top English clubs, and national team captains. And above all, I found an incredible group of women – you can’t help but love them.”
She also spoke about the level within the squad and the ambitions in Europe.
“The level in the team is very high. When it comes to the Champions League, we compete well against some of the biggest clubs. The squad has a lot of experience. But the league itself still needs more investment.”
Lucia is the second Maltese player to join Apollon after Rachel Cuschieri, who had become the first Maltese women’s player to play professional football abroad when she joined the Cypriot club in 2014.
Lucia also explained how this season marked a turning point in her confidence and development as a professional footballer.
“This is the first year I truly felt like a professional in terms of confidence. Before, I was competing for places with players who grew up in professional academies, with a completely different football culture, and it affected me a lot. I used to kick a ball against a wall for four hours, while they were doing position-specific drills with personal trainers every day. I didn’t have the confidence I have today,” she pointed out.
“But this season I realised my level is not lacking at all. Once I understood that, I was able to play my game without doubts or comparisons. I’ve been earning from football for four years now – it’s not a mistake or a fluke, but the result of a lot of hard work that helped me close the huge resource gap I had in Malta.”
“Mentally I improved a lot, and that brings many important things – like decision-making and speed of play. Anyone watching me today is seeing a completely different player from two years ago.”
Looking ahead to next season, Lucia confirmed that she is set to sign with one of the world’s leading agencies in women’s football and will begin exploring new opportunities after the end of the 2025/2026 season.
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