Maria Farrugia

Last updated

Maria Farrugia
Maria Farrugia Lewes FC Women 1 Durham Women 1 21 01 2024-685 (53479204165).jpg
Maria Farrugia in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-01-09) 9 January 2001 (age 24)
Place of birth Gozo, Malta
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Bristol City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2022 Sunderland 57 (17)
2022–2023 Durham 27 (0)
2023–2024 Lewes 25 (3)
2024–2025 Sheffield United 25 (8)
2025– Bristol City 0 (0)
International career
2016–2017 Malta U17 6 (3)
2018 Malta U19 3 (0)
2019– Malta 55 (11)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:32, 5 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 May 2025

Maria Farrugia (born 9 January 2001) is a Maltese footballer who plays as a forward for Bristol City in the Women's Super League 2 and for the Malta women's national team.

Contents

Club career

Growing up on the island of Gozo, Farrugia began playing football at the age of four. She would play on boys' teams until the U15 level. At the age of 11, she was selected to join the Malta Football Association national youth teams, having to take the ferry to commute from Gozo to the main island. [1]

After graduating from the National Sport School, Malta, she moved to the UK, where she began training with Sunderland AFC's Foundation of Light. [2] In 2019, she signed with Sunderland AFC Ladies, making her debut with the club in mid-February 2019. [3]

In July 2021, she signed a one-year extension with Sunderland. [4] She was named the FA Women's Championship Player of the Week for the first week of the 2021–22 season. [5]

After departing Sunderland at the end of the 2021–22 season, Farrugia joined Durham in August 2022. [6]

At the end of June 2023, Lewes FC Women announced that she would be joining their team. [7] She won the league goal of the month for January 2024, [8] as well as the player of the month for March 2024 with Lewes FC Women. [9]

On 19 August 2024, Farrugia was announced at Sheffield United. Farrugia shortly after won both the player of the month and the goal of the month for October 2024 with Sheffield United. She also won the goal of the month for November 2024. Farrugia’s goal of the month for October 2024 against Bristol City ended up being the goal of the season. [10]

On 22 July 2025, it was announced that Farrugia had signed a two-year contract with Women's Super League 2 side Bristol City. [11]

International career

Farrugia has been capped for the Malta national team, making her debut in 2019. [12] [13]

References

  1. Laverty, Richard (19 February 2021). "Malta's Rapid Rise". Our Game Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  2. "Scholar Maria delighted to sign for Sunderland AFC Ladies". Foundation of Light. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  3. "Farrugia eager to make most of Sunderland AFC opportunity". Malta FA. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  4. Pentland, Daniel (7 July 2021). "Maltese midfielder Farrugia signs new Sunderland deal". WSL Full-Time. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  5. @FAWomensChamp (1 September 2021). "As voted for by you... The #FAWC Gameweek One Player of the Week goes to Maria Farrugia of @SAFCLadies! 👏" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  6. Lia, Gianluca (8 August 2022). "Maria Farrugia moves to Championship side Durham Women FC". Times of Malta . Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  7. "Farrugia signs". Lewes Community Football Club. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  8. Lia, Gianluca (14 February 2024). "Malta women Maria Farrugia wins Championship's Goal of Month". Times of Malta . Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  9. Lia, Gianluca (18 April 2024). "Maria Farrugia wins Women's Championship Player of the Month in England". Times of Malta . Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  10. "Farrugia joins the Blades". www.sufc.co.uk. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  11. Robins, Sheridan (22 July 2025). "Farrugia is a Robin". Bristol City FC. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  12. "Malta girls draw 0–0 with Estonia in Aphrodite Cup opener". Times of Malta . 27 February 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  13. "Malta U-19 girls earn point in final group match". Times of Malta . 8 October 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2025.