Esme Beth Morgan (born 18 October 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for National Women's Soccer League club Washington Spirit and the England national team.
 Morgan playing for Manchester City in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Esme Beth Morgan[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 18 October 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Sheffield, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Washington Spirit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Manchester City | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2024 | Manchester City | 53 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | → Everton (loan) | 11 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | Washington Spirit | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | England U17 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | England U19 | 18 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | England U21 | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020– | England | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:10, 25 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:35, 29 October 2024 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editMorgan began playing football aged 4 with Ecclesall Rangers boys team, remaining with the side until age 16. She also played for Worsbrough Bridge girls’ team.[2]
Club career
editManchester City
editA product of Manchester City's youth team, Morgan signed her first professional contract with the club in June 2019,.[3] She had previously made her debut for the senior side in a league win against Yeovil Town on 24 September 2017.[4] She spent the 2019–20 season on loan at Everton.[5]
On 2 May 2021, in the 2020–21 season, Morgan scored her debut goal for City against Birmingham City in a 4–0 victory, assisted by Lauren Hemp in the 85th-minute.[6]
In September 2021, Morgan suffered a lower leg fracture against Tottenham at Manchester City's Academy Stadium.[7] She has since returned to the starting line-up for City.[8]
On 18 January 2022, Morgan signed a three-year contract extension with City.[9] On 6 November 2022, she captained her club for the first time in a 3–0 win over Reading.[10]
On 27 May 2024, it was announced that Morgan would leave the club.[11]
Washington Spirit
editOn 13 June 2024, it was announced that Morgan had signed for NWSL club Washington Spirit on a four-year deal, becoming eligible to play from 15 July.[12] She made her debut for the club in a 3–0 victory against Houston Dash on 15 September.[13]
International career
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Morgan has been featured throughout all youth levels of the England national team set-up, since she was first called up to the under-17 team in 2017.
Morgan was called up to the senior England squad for a training camp in September 2020, before being out on injury from September 2021 to late 2022.[3]
On 12 October 2022, Morgan won her first senior cap for the England national team when she made her debut as a half-time substitute in an international friendly against Czech Republic.[14][15]
On 18 November 2022, her England legacy number was announced as number 224.[16][17]
On 31 May 2023, Morgan was named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in July 2023,[18] where she was an unused substitute in the tournament.[19]
Style of play
editMorgan began her senior career as a forward, before becoming a defender. She mainly plays a centre-back, but can also play as a defensive midfielder,[3] and has played at right-back and left-back.[20] A progressive passer of the ball, her successful pass rate has reached as high as 92 per cent. She has been described as an intuitive and versatile defender who knows when to take initiative.[21]
Personal life
editAlthough she grew up in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Morgan had been a lifelong supporter of Manchester City before signing for The Blues in 2017.[22] She says that she had a season ticket at the Blues since the age of three and "dreamed of playing for Manchester City" her whole life.[23]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 20 October 2024[19]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester City | 2017–18 | Women's Super League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Women's Super League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | Women's Super League | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | Women's Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23 | Women's Super League | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Women's Super League | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Club total | 53 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 1 | ||
| Everton (loan) | 2019–20 | Women's Super League | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 1 | ||
| Washington Spirit | 2024 | NWSL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 70 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 104 | 2 | ||
- ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Women's Champions League
International
edit- As of match played 29 October 2024[19]
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | |
Honours
editManchester City
England
- FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up: 2023[24]
- Women's Finalissima: 2023[25]
References
edit- ^ a b "List of Players – England" (PDF). FIFA. 24 September 2016. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Esme Morgan". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Saqib, Faiza (12 August 2023). "Esme Morgan: England and Man City talent in profile". The Independent. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Oatway, Caroline (18 January 2022). "Esme Morgan pens new City deal". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Everton Sign England Under-19 Captain On Season-Long Loan". www.evertonfc.com.
- ^ "Kelly double sends Man City top of WSL". BBC Sport. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Esme Morgan: Manchester City confirm defender suffered a broken leg in Tottenham defeat". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 May 2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "England's Esme Morgan excited by Wembley return". www.englandfootball.com. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
- ^ "Morgan extends Man City deal until 2025". BBC Sport. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Mumford, Jack. "Morgan reflects on 'special' day as City captain". Manchester City FC. Retrieved 16 January 2023.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Morgan set for City exit". www.mancity.com. 27 May 2024.
- ^ "Washington Spirit signs standout English defender Esme Morgan". Washington Spirit. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "Recap: Spirit dominates Houston Dash, sweeps season series". Washington Spirit. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Kelsey, George. "Morgan makes senior England debut in Czech Republic draw". Manchester City FC. Retrieved 16 January 2023.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Toloui, Anton (7 July 2023). "Esme Morgan: England Women defender reveals she 'almost missed' World Cup call-up". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Legacy numbers introduced for England women's team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "Esme Morgan". England Football. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for 2023 Women's World Cup". England Football.
- ^ a b c "Esme Morgan". Soccerway.
- ^ Piper, Alice (18 January 2022). "Manchester City defender Esme Morgan signs contract extension". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Esme Morgan: A stand-out for club and country". OneFootball. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Association, The Football. "England Women's profile: Esme Morgan". www.thefa.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ Thorley, Caroline Oatway, Simon. "Esme Morgan: Blue blood". www.mancity.com. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Sanders, Emma (20 August 2023). "England beaten by Spain in Women's World Cup final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (6 April 2023). "England beat Brazil on penalties to win Finalissima". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
External links
edit
- Profile at Washington Spirit
- Profile at England Football
- Esme Morgan at Soccerway
- Esme Morgan at The FA