Safia Middleton-Patel

Safia Middleton-Patel

Middleton-Patel in goal, Wales v Italy, 3 June 2025
Personal information
Date of birth	(2004-09-21) 21 September 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Wales
Position	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Manchester United
Number	39
Youth career
0000–2020	Liverpool
2020–	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–	Manchester United	0	(0)
2021	→ Blackburn Rovers (loan)	0	(0)
2022	→ Leicester City (loan)	0	(0)
2023	→ Coventry United (loan)	3	(0)
2023	→ Blackburn Rovers (loan)	1	(0)
2024	→ Watford (loan)	6	(0)
International career‡
2019–2021	Wales U17	6	(0)
2020–2021	Wales U19	6	(0)
2023–	Wales	6	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 25 October 2025

Safia Middleton-Patel (born 21 September 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United of the Women's Super League, and the Wales national team. ^[1]

Club career

Manchester United

Having made five appearances for Liverpool under-16s youth team, ^[2] Middleton-Patel joined Women's Super League club Manchester United in summer 2020. ^[3] During the 2021–22 season, she was part of the under-21 team that won the WSL Academy League and Academy Cup double. ^[3] She was named to her first senior matchday squad for the club on 5 February 2022, a WSL match against Arsenal. ^[4] She signed her first senior professional contract with the club in January 2023. ^[5] On 21 August 2025, Middleton-Patel signed a new contract with Manchester United, keeping her at the club until June 2028. ^[6]

Loan spells

In November 2021, Middleton-Patel joined Blackburn Rovers of the Women's Championship on dual registration terms. ^[7] She was named to two matchday squads that month but did not make a senior appearance. ^[1]

On 12 March 2022, she joined WSL club Leicester City on an emergency goalkeeper loan for an away trip to Everton following injuries to Demi Lambourne and Kirstie Levell. ^[8] She was an unused substitute behind Sophie Harris as Leicester lost 3–2. ^[9]

On 11 February 2023, Middleton-Patel joined Championship club Coventry United on an emergency goalkeeper loan for a home match against Blackburn Rovers. ^[10] She made her senior debut the following day, starting as Coventry won 3–1. ^[11] In total she played three matches, conceding nine goals.

On 26 April 2023, Middleton-Patel returned to Blackburn Rovers on an emergency loan deal. ^[12] Four days later, she kept her first clean sheet in senior football as Blackburn beat Sunderland 1–0. ^[13]

On 19 January 2024, she joined Championship club Watford on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. ^{[14] [15]} She made a total of six appearances, keeping two clean sheets and conceding eight goals, as Watford finished last and were relegated.

2024–25 season

Following the summer departure of Mary Earps, Middleton-Patel assumed the role of backup behind Phallon Tullis-Joyce. On 11 December 2024, she made her Manchester United debut in the final group stage game of the 2024–25 Women's League Cup against Championship side Newcastle United. United won 5–3.

International career

Youth

Middleton-Patel represented Wales at under-17 and under-19, appearing during 2020 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification and 2022 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification as well as 2022 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification.

Senior

In September 2022, Middleton-Patel received her first senior Wales call-up for 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Slovenia but did not appear. ^[16] She was recalled to the squad during the next two windows, for two further qualifiers and a friendly but again did not appear for the team. On 15 February 2023, Middleton-Patel made her senior international debut, aged 18, when she started against the Philippines at the 2023 Pinatar Cup. ^[17] She played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory for Wales. ^[18] She departed camp prior to the second game in order to appear for the under-19 team. ^[19]

During her third cap on 8 April 2025, Middleton-Patel was awarded player of the match for her performance in a 1–1 UEFA Women's Nations League draw against Sweden. ^[20] In June that year, she was named in Wales' squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025. ^[21] By playing at the tournament, she became the first female player of Asian heritage to play for Wales at a major tournament. ^[22]

Personal life

Middleton-Patel was born in Wales to an Indian father and a Welsh mother on 21 September 2004. ^{[23] [24] [25]}

In September 2023, Middleton-Patel revealed via social media that she had recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. ^{[26] [27]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 December 2024. ^[1]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester United	2021–22	WSL	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2022–23		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2023–24		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2024–25		0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Blackburn Rovers (loan)	2021–22	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Leicester City (loan)	2021–22	WSL	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Coventry United (loan)	2022–23	Championship	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Blackburn Rovers (loan)	2022–23	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Watford (loan)	2023–24	Championship	6	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Career total			10	0	0	0	1	0	11	0

International

Statistics accurate as of match played 25 October 2025. ^[1]

Wales
Year	Apps	Goals
2023	1	0
2024	1	0
2025	4	0
Total	6	0

Honours

Manchester United

• Women's FA Cup runner-up: 2024–25 ^[28]

References

1. "S. Middleton-Patel - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
2. "Player Season Totals | Liverpool FC Women U16 RTC | FA Girls' England Talent Pathway League". The FA . Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
3. Wilkes, Louise (27 January 2023). "Man United WSL U21 academy make the finals for the second consecutive year". Manchester Evening News . Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
4. "Match Report Arsenal v United Women 5 February". www.manutd.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
5. "Middleton-Patel signs first pro contract". www.manutd.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
6. "Middleton-Patel signs new United Women contract". manutd.com. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
7. "Safia and Chloe are both Blues". Blackburn Rovers FC. 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
8. "Middleton-Patel Joins LCFC Women For Everton Trip". www.lcfc.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
9. "The Toffees Take Three Points As Foxes Fall To WSL Reverse". www.lcfc.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
10. "Safia Middleton-Patel: Coventry United sign Manchester United keeper on emergency loan". BBC Sport. 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
11. "Coventry United vs Blackburn match report". www.coventryunited.co.uk. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
12. "Manchester United goalkeeper Middleton-Patel joins Blackburn Rovers on loan". FAWSL Full-Time. 26 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
13. "Report: Sunderland 0-1 Rovers". Blackburn Rovers FC. 30 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
14. "Safia Middleton-Patel joins Watford on loan". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
15. "Women: Hornets Sign Middleton-Patel". Watford F.C. 19 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
16. "FAW / Cymru squad announced for final 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers". www.faw.cymru. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
17. "'Happy tears' for debutant keeper Middleton-Patel". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
18. "FAW / Cymru kick off 2023 with Pinatar Cup win against Philippines". www.faw.cymru. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
19. "Cymru play out goalless draw with Iceland in Pinatar Cup". www.faw.cymru. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
20. Standley, James (27 June 2025). "'I love my fans, but also dread meeting them' - life as an autistic elite footballer". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
21. "Cymru squad announced for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 finals". Football Association of Wales. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
22. "Euro 2025: Wales' Safia Middleton-Patel's historic moment 'so important'". BBC Sport. 17 July 2025.
23. "THE STORY OF UNITED WOMEN'S GOALKEEPING UNION". manutd.com. 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
24. "Major documentary series on Wales' Black and Asian footballers released". nation.cymru. 17 July 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
25. Marsh, Philip; Mitchelmore, Ian (2025). "Cymru". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
26. Falk, Graham (5 September 2023). "Man Utd goalkeeper opens up on autism diagnosis and calls for more 'inclusivity and understanding'". Manchester World. National World. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
27. "Middleton-Patel: I want to be a role model". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
28. Sanders, Emma (18 May 2025). "Chelsea seal treble with FA Cup win over Man Utd". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 18 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.

External links

• Profile on Manchester United W.F.C.'s website
• Safia Middleton-Patel at Soccerway