Grace Clinton

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Grace Clinton
Lewes FC Women 0 Bristol City Women 1 Conti Cup 18 01 2023-516 (52636858877) (cropped).jpg
Clinton playing for Bristol City in 2023
Personal information
Full name Grace Clinton
Date of birth (2003-03-31) 31 March 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 8
Youth career
Everton
Manchester United [1]
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2022 Everton 14 (0)
2022– Manchester United 12 (4)
2023 → Bristol City (loan) 12 (6)
2023–2024 → Tottenham Hotspur (loan) 20 (4)
International career‡
2020–2021 England U17 2 (1)
2021–2022 England U19 12 (6)
2022– England U23 6 (0)
2024– England 5 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 January 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 December 2024

Grace Clinton (born 31 March 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English Women's Super League (WSL) club Manchester United and the England national team. Clinton started her senior career at Everton before moving to Manchester United. She had loan spells at Bristol City, where she won the 2022–23 Championship title, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Contents

Club career

Everton

Clinton came through the Everton academy. In preseason ahead of the 2020–21 campaign, then-16-year-old Clinton was called up to train with the first team after manager Willie Kirk singled her out as "a really talented teenager, but she's probably our sixth-choice midfielder. She could play for every Championship team and possibly a couple of WSL teams." [2] He did, however, note room for improvement in her game defensively, stating she was "a little bit frustrating because she was a little bit lazy out of possession" and stated the influence of experienced England international Jill Scott could have after her arrival on loan in January 2021. [3]

In August 2020, Clinton scored during a 5–0 preseason friendly win against Championship side Blackburn Rovers. [4] [5] She made her competitive senior debut for the club on 3 October 2020, appearing as a 74th-minute substitute for Izzy Christiansen in a 6–0 FA WSL victory over Aston Villa. [6]

On 1 November 2020, Clinton was named as part of the squad for the delayed 2020 Women's FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where she was an unused substitute as Everton lost to Manchester City 3–1 in extra-time. [7] [8] She made her first start for the club on 18 November 2020 in a Merseyside derby as Everton beat Liverpool 1–0 in the 2020–21 League Cup. [9] [10]

Manchester United

On 15 July 2022, it was announced Clinton had signed for Manchester United on a three-year contract. United manager Marc Skinner was delighted with the signing, saying "she will bring invention, creation, and has the personality and resilience required". [11]

Bristol City loan

On 14 January 2023, having not yet made an appearance for Manchester United, Clinton joined Women's Championship side Bristol City on loan for the remainder of the season. [12] [13] The next day, she scored a 93rd minute equaliser on her debut in a game that Bristol City ended up winning 3–2 against Coventry United. [14] In her second appearance, Clinton was sent off for two yellow cards against Lewes in the 2022–23 League Cup, that City won 1–0. [15]

On 23 April 2023, she scored the opening goal in the 4–0 win over Charlton Athletic, helping the team to win the 2022–23 Championship and promotion back to the WSL. [16] [3] In total, Clinton scored six goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for Bristol City, [17] with her loan spell described as a "good stepping stone" by Skinner. [3]

Tottenham Hotspur loan

On 14 August 2023, Clinton joined fellow WSL side Tottenham Hotspur on loan. [18] While on loan, she completed the fourth-highest number of tackles per minutes played in the 2023–24 season, according to Talksport. [19]

In October 2023, she scored a long range goal against Brighton & Hove Albion to take the lead in a 3–1 win. [20] In the following game she provided an assist for Martha Thomas in a 4–2 victory over Aston Villa. [21] On 21 January 2024, Clinton scored two goals and provided an assist in a 4–3 league win against West Ham, described as the main reason Spurs were the dominant side in the match. Thriving with a struggling Spurs side, [22] in February 2024, BBC Sport named her as a "standout performer" in the WSL. She finished the season with four goals and four assists in 20 WSL appearances. [23] On 21 August 2024, she was named PFA Women's Young Player of the Year. [24]

2024–25 season

After two loan spells away from the club, Clinton made her Manchester United debut on 21 September 2024, starting and scoring in an opening day 3–0 win at Old Trafford. [25] On 9 January 2024, having scored 4 goals in 10 appearances during the 2024–25 season, United triggered Clinton's one-year contract extension, [26] keeping her at the club until the summer of 2026. [27]

International career

Youth

Clinton has played for England at under-17, under-19, and under-23 youth levels. [28]

On 30 July 2021, with the under-19s, Clinton provided the assist for the equalising goal, as well as scored the final goal, in a 4–1 win over Czech Republic. [29] In October 2021, in 2022 U-19 Championship qualification, Clinton scored a hat-trick against Northern Ireland in an 8–1 win, [30] followed by the winning goal against Switzerland in a 1–0 victory, [31] helping England to qualify for the final tournament. On 17 February 2022, in the U-19 Marbella International Tournament, Clinton scored the opening goal in a 4–0 victory over Finland. [32] In June 2022, Clinton was named to the under-19 squad for the 2022 U-19 Championship, [33] where she scored the final goal against Norway in an 8–1 win. [34] She played the full 90 minutes in each group match, as England were eliminated at the group stage. [35]

In November 2022, Clinton played for the under-23 squad in friendlies against Netherlands and Italy. [36] In April 2023, she played in matches against Portugal and Belgium, [37] and was again called up for matches against Norway and Belgium in September 2023, starting both. [38]

Senior

Clinton received her first England senior call-up in October 2023 for the UEFA Nations League matches against Belgium but did not make an appearance. [39] She retained her place in the squad during the December window but, again, was an unused substitute for both matches. [40] Clinton made an impressive senior debut on 23 February 2024, [23] starting and scoring within 19 minutes in a 7–2 friendly victory over Austria. [41]

Starting against Switzerland in a December 2024 friendly, she scored her third goal for England in five appearances. [42] Clinton received critical acclaim for her performance as the player that dominated in the first half, [43] and as an England star for the future by The Guardian . [44]

Style of play

Clinton is a versatile player who features in the number 10 position as an attacking midfielder, [43] a number 8 box-to-box midfielder, [19] [45] or a wide player. [27] According to Goal.com, she is able to find and exploit space, play on the half-turn, and can unravel defences with her creativity and vision. [43]

Clinton is also known to attentively defend when necessary, using her physicality and strength, [45] having previously been described as a "bit lazy out of possession" by her former manager at Everton Willie Kirk. [46] Former England captain Steph Houghton stated that Clinton is a player who can "defend and be a presence in the box". [47]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 January 2025 [17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton 2020–21 Women's Super League 60102090
2021–22 Women's Super League801031121
Total1402051211
Manchester United 2022–23 Women's Super League00000000
2023–24 Women's Super League00000000
2024–25 Women's Super League1240030154
Total1240030154
Bristol City (loan) 2022–23 Championship 1262010156
Tottenham Hotspur (loan) 2023–24 Women's Super League2043041275
Career total5814701327816

International

As of match played 3 December 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England 202453
Total53
As of match played 3 December 2024
Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Clinton goal.
List of international goals scored by Grace Clinton
No.DateCapVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
123 February 20241 Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Algeciras, SpainFlag of Austria.svg  Austria 2–07–2 Friendly
229 October 20244 Coventry Arena, Coventry, EnglandFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2–02–1
33 December 20245 Bramall Lane, Sheffield, EnglandFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 1–01–0

Honours

Bristol City

Tottenham Hotspur

Individual

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References

  1. ↑ "Player Season Totals | Manchester United Women's FC Academy | Professional Game Academy League". The FA . Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  2. ↑ "WSL could expand - Everton boss Kirk". BBC Sport.
  3. 1 2 3 Sanders, Emma (25 October 2023). "How England's 'next superstar' caught Wiegman's eye". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "Everton In Strong Position Ahead Of WSL Opener". www.evertonfc.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  5. ↑ O'Neill, Caoimhe (27 August 2020). "Everton Women cruise to friendly win ahead of season opener". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  6. ↑ "Barclays FA WSL report: Aston Villa 0-6 Everton". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  7. ↑ "Everton 1-3 Manchester City". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. ↑ "Man City win FA Cup after extra time". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "FA Women's Continental Tyres League Cup report: Everton 1 Liverpool 0". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  10. ↑ Carroll, Sam (18 November 2020). "Everton Women keep Continental Cup hopes alive with win over Liverpool". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. ↑ "Man Utd Women sign Grace Clinton". www.manutd.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "Grace Clinton joins Bristol City on loan". Manchester United. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  13. ↑ "Clinton signs for City". Bristol City FC. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 14 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  14. ↑ "Report: Bristol City 3-2 Coventry United". Bristol City FC. 15 January 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  15. ↑ "Report: Lewes FC Women 0-1 Bristol City". Bristol City FC. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  16. ↑ Hurcom, Sophie (23 April 2023). "Smith 'excited' as Bristol City return to WSL". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 3 December 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  17. 1 2 "G. Clinton - - Soccerway". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "Grace Clinton joins Tottenham Hotspur on loan". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 14 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  19. 1 2 Riley, Martha (4 April 2024). "Clinton is England's next superstar but faces tough Spurs vs Man United decision". talkSPORT . Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  20. ↑ Rose, Gary (15 October 2023). "Clinton stunner helps Spurs win at Brighton". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  21. ↑ Miller, Ben (21 October 2023). "Thomas hat-trick gives 'brave' Spurs win at Villa". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  22. ↑ Drury, Sam (21 January 2024). "Tottenham beat West Ham in seven-goal WSL thriller". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 21 January 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  23. 1 2 Sanders, Emma (24 February 2024). "Clinton's impressive debut but is there still more to come?". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  24. ↑ "Khadija Shaw and Grace Clinton win PFA player of the year awards". BBC Sport. 20 August 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  25. ↑ "United Women 3 West Ham 0". www.manutd.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  26. ↑ Sanders, Emma (9 January 2025). "Grace Clinton: Man Utd trigger one-year contract extension for England midfielder". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  27. 1 2 Ruszkai, Ameé (9 January 2025). "Grace Clinton is staying! Man Utd trigger contract extension for Lioness as Red Devils bid to avoid losing another England star after Mary Earps & Alessia Russo exits". Goal.com . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  28. ↑ "Grace Clinton Profile". England Football. Archived from the original on 6 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  29. ↑ Davies, Callum (30 July 2021). "England WU19s beat Czech Republic by 4-1 in Telford". England Football. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  30. ↑ "England-Northern Ireland | Women's Under-19 2022". UEFA.com. 23 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  31. ↑ "England-Switzerland | Women's Under-19 2022". UEFA.com. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  32. ↑ Smith, Frank (17 February 2022). "Goals from Grace Clinton, Elysia Boddy and Freya Gregory help England women's under-19s to victory". England Football. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  33. ↑ Davies, Callum (22 June 2022). "WU19s squad named for EUROs". England Football. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  34. ↑ "England-Norway | Women's Under-19 2022". UEFA.com. 27 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  35. ↑
  36. ↑
  37. ↑
  38. ↑
  39. ↑ Sanders, Emma (17 October 2023). "Women's Nations League: Fran Kirby back for England after knee surgery". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  40. ↑ "England women's senior squad named to play Netherlands and Scotland". www.englandfootball.com. 21 November 2023.
  41. ↑ "Dominant England put five past Austria in friendly". BBC Sport. 23 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  42. ↑ Hunter, Laura (3 December 2024). "England Women 1-0 Switzerland Women: Grace Clinton earns victory as Lionesses close out international calendar for 2024". Sky Sports . Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  43. 1 2 3 Ruszkai, Ameé (3 December 2024). "England women's player ratings vs Switzerland: Grace Clinton sends a message while Ruby Mace enjoys strong Lionesses debut in Sarina Wiegman's experimental XI". Goal.com Kenya . Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  44. ↑ Garry, Tom (3 December 2024). "Clinton delivers to give experimental England edge against Switzerland". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  45. 1 2 Puodzius, Sophie (14 September 2024). "Five players ready to take the WSL by storm". Impetus Football. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  46. ↑ Sanders, Emma (25 October 2023). "Grace Clinton: How England's 'next superstar' caught Sarina Wiegman's eye". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  47. ↑ Sanders, Emma (3 December 2024). "Grace Clinton: Is Manchester United midfielder pushing to start for England at Euro 2025?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  48. ↑ "Grace Clinton Wins PFA Young Player of The Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 20 August 2024. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  49. ↑ "2023–24 PFA WSL Team of the Year". Professional Footballers' Association. 20 August 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  50. ↑ "All the winners from the City awards dinner". Bristol City FC. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
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