Niamh Charles

Niamh Louise Charles (born 21 June 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Women's Super League club Chelsea and the England women's national team.

Niamh Charles
Charles in 2017
Personal information
Full name Niamh Louise Charles[1]
Date of birth (1999-06-21) 21 June 1999
Place of birth Wirral, Merseyside, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m)[1]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Chelsea
Number 21
Youth career
Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2020 Liverpool 48 (6)
2020– Chelsea 58 (6)
International career‡
2015–2016 England U17 14 (10)
2017 England U19 5 (1)
2017–2018 England U20 5 (0)
2021– England 9 (0)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  England
UEFA–CONMEBOL Finalissima
Winner2023 England
FIFA Women's World Cup
Runner-up2023 Australia and New Zealand
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:41, 22 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:03, 16 August 2023 (UTC)

Early career

Charles grew up on the Wirral in Merseyside and spent her youth career at the West Kirby Wasps. Excelling when playing with boys up to the age of 14, where she was regularly the only female player on the pitch, after a successful trial, she became a member of Liverpool's youth setup, which she chose over rivals Everton.

Club career

Liverpool

After impressing in the academy, Charles made her senior debut in April 2016 in a draw against Sunderland.[2] Following her excellent 2016 season with Liverpool and the England U-17s, she was nominated for the Women's Rising Star award at the Northwest Football Awards.[2]

Chelsea

Following Liverpool's relegation at the end of the 2019–20 season, Charles signed for Chelsea[3] and won the double in her first season. She also started in the Champions League final, where Chelsea lost to Barcelona.

Charles won the double with Chelsea again the season after and since then has fully established herself as a regular starter.

International career

In her youth career, Charles represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-20 levels.

During UEFA U-17 qualifying, Charles was the third-leading scorer for England with six goals.[4] She then tied for the Bronze Boot at the final tournament with four goals, helping England finish third and qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup,[4] where she played in all four matches without scoring as England were eliminated by Japan in the quarter-finals.[5]

Charles made her debut for the senior side on April 9, 2021, as a half-time substitute for Alex Greenwood in a friendly against France.

On 27 May 2021, it was announced that Charles had been selected as one of four reserve players for the Great Britain women's Olympic football team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[6] A year later, she was named in the pre-tournament squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022 on home soil, but became one of three unfortunate players who narrowly missed the cut for the final 23. England went on to win the whole tournament.

Charles was allotted 220 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[7]

On 31 May 2023, Charles was named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in July 2023.[8] Niamh played in 2 games at the World Cup, featuring in the 6-1 win over China in the group stage and coming on in the semi final victory over hosts Australia.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 October 2023.[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool 2016 Women's Super League 800010— —90
2017 Women's Super League 7010—— —80
2017–18 Women's Super League 1130030— —143
2018–19 Women's Super League 9 1 0 0 1 0 — — 10 1
2019–20 Women's Super League 13 2 2 1 4 3 — — 19 6
Total 48 6 3 1 9 3 — — 60 10
Chelsea 2020–21 Women's Super League 131414180 1[lower-alpha 2] 0303
2021–22 Women's Super League 201513040 —322
2022–23 Women's Super League 2145030100 —394
2023–24 Women's Super League 40000000 —40
Total 58 6 14 2 10 1 22 0 1 0 105 9
Career total 10612173194220 1 016519
  1. Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
  2. Appearances in Women's FA Community Shield

International
As of match played 16 August 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year AppsGoals
England 202120
202220
202350
Total90

Honours

Chelsea

England

References
  1. "List of Players – England" (PDF). FIFA. 24 September 2016. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  2. "Ladies duo nominated for Northwest Football Awards". Liverpool FC. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  3. "Chelsea FC Women recruit Niamh Charles". www.chelseafc.com.
  4. "England – Women's Under-17". UEFA.com. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  5. "Niamh CHARLES". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  6. "Team GB: Steph Houghton, Sophie Ingle and Caroline Weir in Olympics squad". bbc.co.uk. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for World Cup". The Football Association. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  8. Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for 2023 Women's World Cup". England Football.
  9. "Liverpool Ladies player stats". Liverpool Ladies FC. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  10. Emma Sanders (20 August 2023). "Women's World Cup final: England lose to Spain in Sydney". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  11. Sanders, Emma (6 April 2023). "England beat Brazil on penalties to win Finalissima". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  12. "England 3 – 1 Germany". BBC Sport. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  13. "Arnold Clark Cup: England hit six v Belgium to retain trophy". BBC Sport. 22 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
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