Jessica Kingsley scores Webber's children's book on 'the joy of playing football as a transgender boy'

Jessica Kingsley has scored Jacob’s Transition Goals, the debut children’s book by Arthur Webber, "on the joy of playing football as a transgender boy". 

Senior commissioning editor Jane Evans acquired the world rights directly from the author and the book will be published for readers aged seven to nine in spring 2025.

Jacob’s Transition Goals is described as a picture book following a transgender boy, Jacob, who joins the boy’s football team and initially struggles to be accepted by his teammates. 

Webber is captain of the TRUK United FC’s Men’s team, the world’s first all trans-masculine football team. Webber commented: "I’ve always been a strong believer in the saying ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. When I realised I was trans as a child there was no representation of trans people in sport. I thought I had to give up football - and I did for 11 years. Stories like this show that anybody can play football and everybody should be welcome.”

Evans said: “Football is an important part of life for many children. This book provides positive representation of a trans boy playing in the boy’s team and makes clear that football should be for everyone. As captain of TRUK United FC, Arthur Webber is perfectly placed to bring this story to life.”