Araya Dennis

Araya Dennis

Dennis with Tottenham Hotspur in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Araya Marilyn Roxanne Dennis [1]
Date of birth	(2006-01-11) 11 January 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	London, England
Position(s)	Forward, winger, defender
Team information
Current team	Tottenham Hotspur
Number	30
Youth career
	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2023	Arsenal	0	(0)
2023	→ Watford [2] (dual reg)	3	(1)
2023–2024	→ Crystal Palace (dual reg)	20	(2)
2024–	Tottenham Hotspur	0	(0)
International career‡
2022–2023	England U17	10	(0)
2023–	England U19	11	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:45, 8 December 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:15, 3 December 2024 (UTC) [3]

Araya Marilyn Roxanne Dennis (born 11 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur, and as a defender for the England under-19s. A product of the Arsenal Academy, she previously played on loan for Watford in the National League and Crystal palace in the Women's Championship.

Club career

Arsenal and loan spells

Dennis is a product of the Arsenal Academy having scored 4 goals in 18 appearances for the academy team. ^[4] She trained with the Arsenal first team prior to a two month spell with National League South side Watford, under dual registration for the 2022–23 season, ^[5] where she featured in three games, scoring one goal. ^[2]

On 2 September 2023, Dennis joined Women's Championship club Crystal Palace on dual registration for the 2023–24 season, ^[5] and scored on her debut with the club the next day in a 2–1 win against Birmingham City. ^[6] In October, she was awarded the Women's Championship Goal of the Month, for her long-range effort from 35-yards out against Charlton Atheltic. ^{[7] [8]}

Tottenham Hotspur

In February 2024, having played at the 2nd and 3rd levels of women's football in England, Dennis signed a two-year contract with Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur in the top tier. ^[9]

On 2 October 2024, she made her senior debut for Tottenham in the opening group stage match of the 2024–25 League Cup against Charlton Athletic, coming on as a 67 minute substitute. ^[10] On 11 December, aged 18, Dennis scored her debut goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Crystal Palace in the final group stage match, ^[11] helping Tottenham to secure a place in the quarter-finals. ^[12] Her performance was described as impressive by VAVEL and Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn. ^[13]

International career

Dennis was part of the England under-17 team that played in the 2023 U17 Championship up until the semi-finals in May, where the youth team were defeated 3–1 by Spain. ^{[9] [14]}

On 20 September 2023, she scored her youth international debut goals for the England under-19s, with a brace in a friendly fixture against Denmark resulting in a 5–0 victory. ^[15]

In July 2024, Dennis featured in the 2024 UEFA Under-19 Championship for the under-19s, providing an assist for the final goal against Lithuania as a 70th minute substitute. ^{[16] [17]}

For 2025 U19 Championship qualification in November and December 2024, she featured as a defender in all first round matches against Turkey, ^[18] Italy, ^[19] and Poland . ^[20]

Style of play

Dennis is a winger who contributes across the pitch. At the age of 17 she was described by Imeptus Football as a young talent who "displays an intelligence of the game way beyond her young age"; with the ability to easily escape tight spaces, draw opposition, and run channels. ^[21]

Crystal Palace described the forward as a fast-paced and "attack-minded right-sided player". ^[5] For England at youth level, she has covered at left-back from the right-wing position, ^[22] and played as a defender in the number 2 position. ^[18]

Honours

External video
Women's Championship October 2023 Goal of the Month, from Women's Championship via X, 6 November 2023

Crystal Palace

• Women's Championship: 2023–24 ^[23]

Individual

• Women's Championship Goal of the Month: October 2023 ^[24]

References

1. Araya Dennis at Soccerway
2. "Player Season Totals | Watford | The FA Women's National League". The FA . Retrieved 12 December 2024.
3. Araya Dennis at Flashscore.com
4. "Players Season Totals | Arsenal Women FC Academy | Professional Game Academy League". The FA . Retrieved 12 December 2024.
5. "Araya Dennis joins Crystal Palace Women on dual-registration terms". Crystal Palace F.C. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
6. "Arsenal women academy prospect scores in Crystal Palace debut!". OneFootball . 4 September 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
7. "Dennis wins Championship Goal of the Month for Charlton thunderbolt". Crystal Palace F.C. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
8. Absolute magic from Araya Dennis! (Video). Women's Championship. 6 November 2023. Event occurs at 00:14 – via X. How about that! Araya Dennis levels on the stroke of half-time, from all of 35 yards.
9. "Dennis joins the Club". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
10. "Dennis on her debut: "It was a proud moment and a great experience"". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
11. Mitton, Alex (11 December 2024). "Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham: Spurs secure place in League Cup quarter-finals". VAVEL . Retrieved 12 December 2024.
12. "🏆 Women's League Cup: Big wins for Liverpool, Leicester & Man Utd". Yahoo Sports . OneFootball. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
13. Mitton, Alex (11 December 2024). "Robert Vilahamn glad Tottenham are "not Spursy" after League Cup progression". VAVEL . Retrieved 12 December 2024.
14. "Spain-England | Women's Under-17 2023". UEFA . 23 May 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
15. Frith, Wilf (20 September 2023). "England Women U-19s beat Denmark 5-0 aided by Araya Dennis's double". She Kicks . Retrieved 24 October 2024.
16. Frith, Wilf (14 July 2024). "England Women's U-19s net ten against Lithuania". She Kicks . Retrieved 24 October 2024.
17. "Dennis features in winning start for England in the Women's Under-19 Euros". Tottenham Hotspur. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
18. Veevers, Nicholas (27 November 2024). "Report: England WU19s 2-1 Turkiye". England Football. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
19. Veevers, Nicholas (30 November 2024). "Report: England WU19s 1-0 Italy". England Football. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
20. Hunt, Holly (3 December 2024). "Report: England WU19s 0-1 Poland". England Football. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
21. McCowen, Beth; Simons, Liberty (29 December 2023). "A look at the prospects for Araya Dennis". Imeptus Football. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
22. Jamet, Sylvain (15 May 2023). "Arsenal youngster scores 2 as England beat Poland in u17 Euro opener". Daily Cannon. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
23. "Araya Dennis: "I'm looking forward to growing as a player"". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
24. "Dennis wins Championship Goal of the Month for Charlton thunderbolt". Crystal Palace F.C. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2024.

External links

• Araya Dennis at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
• Araya Dennis at Soccerway
• Araya Dennis at Flashscore.com