Martha Thomas (footballer)

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Martha Thomas
20241006-Martha Thomas (cropped).jpg
Thomas with Tottenham Hotspur in 2024
Personal information
Full name Martha Ellen Thomas
Date of birth (1996-05-31) 31 May 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Malmesbury, Wiltshire, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Tottenham Hotspur
Number 17
Youth career
Dorchester Town
Weston FC
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014–2017 Charlotte 49ers 78 (47)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2018–2019 Le Havre 13 (6)
2019–2021 West Ham United 26 (8)
2021–2023 Manchester United 38 (6)
2023– Tottenham Hotspur 26 (7)
International career
2020– Scotland 40 (21)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:00, 14 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:00, 14 November 2024 (UTC)

Martha Ellen Thomas (born 31 May 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Scotland national team.

Contents

Thomas played four years of college soccer for Charlotte 49ers before playing professionally with French Division 2 Féminine club Le Havre, West Ham United in 2019 and Manchester United of the English Women's Super League in 2021. Born in England and raised mainly in the United States, she represents Scotland at international level.

Early life

Thomas was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, to a Scottish mother, Christine, and English father, Andrew. She grew up in Dorchester until 2001 when the family moved to Atlanta, when her father got a job in the United States. They briefly returned to Dorchester in 2003 where Thomas played for Dorchester Town for a season before once again relocating to the States, this time to Weston, Florida, at the age of six. [1] [2] While in Weston, she played for youth club Weston FC. [3]

Charlotte 49ers

Thomas played college soccer for Charlotte 49ers, captaining the team for two seasons. In her first year, Thomas led the team in goals with 11 and was voted Conference USA Freshman of the Year. The following three years, Thomas was selected to the All-Conference USA First Team as well as being voted as the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Upon leaving, Thomas ranked as the school's all-time leading goalscorer with 47. [4] She was also named team MVP in each of her four seasons. [5]

Club career

Le Havre

Thomas had hoped to enter the 2018 NWSL College Draft in January 2018, but suffered an ACL injury in her final appearance for the 49ers in November 2017. [6] Having rehabbed, Thomas belatedly began her professional career with Le Havre AC in the French Division 2, signing for the club in August 2018. [7] She made her debut on 21 October 2018, starting in a 1–0 defeat to Stade de Reims. [8] She scored 6 goals in 13 league appearances as Le Havre finished second. [9]

West Ham United

On 16 July 2019, Thomas signed for West Ham United of the FA WSL, taking the number 9 shirt following the departure of Jane Ross. [2] Thomas started and scored on her debut, the season opener as West Ham lost 2–1 away to reigning champions Arsenal on 8 September 2019. [10] She scored her first career hat-trick during the first half of a 5–0 win against Reading on 3 April 2021. [11] On 21 May 2021, it was confirmed Thomas would leave West Ham after two seasons following the expiration of her contract. [12]

Manchester United

Thomas (centre) with Manchester United teammate Alessia Russo (right), playing against Lewes, March 2023 Alessia Russo Lewes FC Women 1 Manchester Utd Women 3 FAC QF 19 03 2023-1737 (52759745086).jpg
Thomas (centre) with Manchester United teammate Alessia Russo (right), playing against Lewes, March 2023

On 28 July 2021, Thomas signed for Manchester United on a two-year deal with the option of an additional year. [13]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 14 September 2023, Thomas signed a two-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur. [14] She scored on her debut in a 2–1 away defeat to Chelsea on 1 October that year. [15]

International career

Thomas represented the United States at youth level, playing for the under-23 team in 2019 at the Portland Thorns Spring Invitational preseason tournament. [16] She had not yet acquired American citizenship, however, making her ineligible to represent the senior team. [6]

Thomas was eligible to represent both England and Scotland at the senior level. [6] In September 2019 she attended a training camp with the Scotland national team. [17] She subsequently received her first call-up to the Scotland squad on 25 October 2019 but was forced to withdraw through injury. [18] She was again selected by Scotland for the 2020 Pinatar Cup and scored two goals as she made her international debut in a 3–0 win against Ukraine on 4 March 2020. [19] [20] Thomas scored another brace in her seventh appearance for Scotland on 19 February 2021 during a 10–0 victory over Cyprus as part of UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying, the first time Scotland had hit double figures since 2015. Despite the emphatic victory, Scotland had already been eliminated from qualification in December 2020. [21]

During UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying, Thomas scored four goals in a 50 win against Israel. [22]

Personal life

Thomas' great uncle, Jim Kirkland, also played football professionally for Aberdeen in the Scottish top-flight. [1]

She is in a relationship with fellow footballer Ellie Leek. The two met while both playing for Le Havre. The couple announced their engagement on December 22, 2022.

She has been a vocal supporter of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign. [23]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 November 2024 [24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Le Havre 2018–19 [9] D2 Féminine 13620156
West Ham United 2019–20 Women's Super League 1040031135
2020–21 Women's Super League1640031195
Total26800623210
Manchester United 2021–22 Women's Super League1852041246
2022–23 Women's Super League2015041292
Total3867082538
Tottenham Hotspur 2023–24 Women's Super League19741422710
2024–25 Women's Super League70000070
Total26741423410
Career total1032713118613434

International

As of match played 29 October 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Scotland 202062
202144
202294
2023131
2024810
Total4021
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Thomas goal.
List of international goals scored by Martha Thomas
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
14 March 2020 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, SpainFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 1–03–0 2020 Pinatar Cup [25]
22–0
319 February 2021 AEK Arena, Larnaca, CyprusFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 2–010–0 UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying [26]
49–0
517 September 2021 Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion, Budapest, HungaryFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 2–02–0 2023 World Cup qualifying [27]
621 September 2021 Hampden Park, Glasgow, ScotlandFlag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 5–17–1 [28]
719 February 2022 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, SpainFlag of Slovakia.svg  Slovakia 2–02–0 2022 Pinatar Cup
824 June 2022 Stadion Miejski w Rzeszowie, Rzeszów, PolandFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 3–04–0 2023 World Cup qualifying
94–0
106 September 2022 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe IslandsFlag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 4–06–0
1114 July 2023 Dens Park, Dundee, ScotlandUlster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 3–03–0 Friendly [29]
1224 February 2024 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, SpainFlag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 1–02–0 2024 Pinatar Cup
132–0
1427 February 2024 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, SpainFlag of Finland.svg  Finland 1–11–1
1531 May 2024 Hampden Park, Glasgow, ScotlandFlag of Israel.svg  Israel 4–04–1 UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying [30]
164 June 2024 Budaörsi Városi Stadium, Budaörs, HungaryFlag of Israel.svg  Israel 1–05–0 [22]
172–0
183–0
194–0
2025 October 2024 Bozsik Aréna, Budapest, HungaryFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 1–01–0 UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs [31]
2129 October 2024 Easter Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandFlag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 4–04–0 [32]

Honours

Charlotte 49ers

Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur

Scotland

Individual

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