Toone started her senior career at Blackburn Rovers in 2013, later joining Manchester City and winning the WSL in 2016. Since joining United in 2018, she has become their top scorer with most appearances for the club, has been described as a household name, as well as a key player by manager Marc Skinner. In August 2023, Toone scored her first World Cup goal against Australia in the semi-final, becoming the first England footballer to score in a quarter-final, semi-final and final of a major tournament.
Early life
Born in Tyldesley, near Wigan, in the county of Greater Manchester,[2][3] Toone began playing for Astley and Tyldesley Girls,[4] where a plaque honouring her was installed at the club in 2022.[5] She then joined Manchester United's youth academy at 8 years old.[4]
Toone has said her mother was a gymnast growing up, and on her father's side, family members were "all swimmers and water polo players". In school, she played a variety of sports, including table tennis, netball, cross country, and tennis, as well as winning several trophies in gymnastics.[2]
Club career
Blackburn Rovers
In 2013, at 14 years old, she joined Blackburn Rovers, prior to joining the first team two years later to score 13 goals in 20 appearances in the Premier League North.[4] In the 2015–16 and 2015–16 seasons, she scored a total of 26 goals in 33 appearance for the club in all competitions.[7][8]
Manchester City
Toone joined Manchester City in the summer of 2016 having previously been a youth at Manchester United for six years but moved on due to a lack of senior women's team.[3][9] She continued to play with Blackburn in the National League on dual registration terms.[10] In July 2016, she made her senior Manchester City debut as a substitute in an 8–0 win over Aston Villa in the Continental Cup.[11]
In July 2018, Toone joined Manchester United for their inaugural season in the FA Women's Championship for the 2018–19 season, one of seven players to return to the senior side having played for the club at youth level.[14] She made her competitive debut for Manchester United, as a half-time substitute for Mollie Green, in a 1–0 League Cup victory against Liverpool on 19 August.[15] On 9 September, she scored her first senior goal, on her league debut, in United's opening game of the 2018–19 season, a 12–0 win away to Aston Villa.[16] She was voted FA Women's Championship player of the month for February 2019, having scored five goals in United's two league games, with four of them scored against Leicester City on 13 February.[17][18] By 24 March 2019, she had scored 7 consecutive goals in league matches, breaking the club record for most consecutive goals scored by an individual player, later equalled by Jessica Sigsworth.
2019–20
In the 2019–20 season, Toone scored five goals in a League Cup group stage game as United beat Leicester City 11–1 on 21 November 2019, equalling the club record set by Sigsworth the previous season,[19] as well as setting the record for most hat-tricks for the club with her second hat-trick.
2020–21
Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Toone signed a new two-year contract with an option for a third.[20] Toone finished the season as United's top goal scorer, with ten goals in all competitions, as well as five assists.
In the 2021–22 season, Toone became joint top assist provider alongside Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, providing 8 assists, as well as scoring 7 goals.[21] On 20 November 2021, it was announced that Toone had signed a new contract until June 2025.[22] She became WSL Player of the Month in December, playing every minute of Manchester United's WSL games that month.[23] A fan favourite, Toone was awarded club Player of the Year for the season with 35% of the vote, as the first player to reach 100 appearances for the club, as well as nominated PFA Young Player of the Year, the award was later won by Lauren Hemp.[24]
2022–23
On 10 November 2022, Toone signed a further contract extension until June 2026.[25] In the 2022–23 season, Toone provided 8 assists and scored 3 goals, helping United to finish second place in the WSL, and qualifying for the Champions League second round for the first time in the club's history.[26] In February 2023, Toone had a red card and three-match ban overturned, after being sent off for pushing Tottenham's Eveliina Summanen.[27] Summanen was later charged with simulation and deceiving officials over the incident by the FA, and given a two-match ban.[28][29]
2023–24
I always want to contribute goals and assists, it's what I pride myself on as a No.10. It was quite difficult having a few games without them but I just had to make sure I was not putting too much pressure on myself to force things. I always set myself targets [before a season] but this term I've learned I can't think about them too much.
On 10 October 2023, Toone played her first Champions League game against PSG, describing it as an "unbelievable feeling".[31] United were subsequently defeated 3–1 in the return leg with Toone hitting the post.[32] On 5 November, during the 2023–2024 season, Toone ended her year-long club "goal drought",[33] described as a "gradual decline" by Manchester Evening News,[34] by scoring a stunning goal against Brighton in a 2–2 draw.[35][33] The goal was subsequently nominated as WSL Goal of the Month, an award later won by Rachel Daly.[36] Considered a key player for the team, in November 2023, Marc Skinner has described her class as "permanent".[33]
Toone was voted Manchester United Women's Player of the Month for December 2023 with 62% of the fan vote,[37] as well as for January 2024 with 49% of the vote, after becoming the first United player to make 150 appearances for the club.[38] The following month, In front of the record-breaking Super League crowd at a sold out Emirates Stadium, she provided an assist for Lucía García.[39]
On 12 May 2024, Toone scored the first goal in the 2024 Women's FA Cup Final against Tottenham, and her fourth at Wembley Stadium, helping United win 4–0 and collect their first their FA Cup victory.[40][41] The goal from the edge of the box was described as a "screamer" and a "wondergoal",[40][42] and was later voted Manchester United Women's Goal of the Season by fans.[43]
2024–25
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Toone was named vice-captain of the club.[44] In November 2024, she suffered a torn calf during training. This ended her run of 96 consecutive league appearances for the club, the longest for an outfield player at a single club in the history of the WSL.[45] United manager Marc Skinner confirmed she would be unable to play until January 2025 at earliest.[46]
On 11 January 2025, having returned from injury after missing six games,[47] Toone scored as a substitute against West Bromich Albion in the fourth round of the 2024–25 FA Cup.[48] The following week, on 19 January, she scored her first WSL hat-trick in a 4–2 away victory in the Manchester derby.[49]
In September 2020, Toone received her first senior national team call-up as part of a 30-player training camp at St George's Park.[56][57] She made her senior international debut on 23 February 2021 as a half-time substitute and scored a penalty in a 6–0 friendly win over Northern Ireland.[58][59] She scored a hat-trick on 26 October 2021 against Latvia during 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification.[60]
In June 2022, Toone was included in the England squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[61][62] She appeared in every match as a substitute, and scored twice. Her first goal was an 84th-minute equaliser against Spain in the quarter-finals to send the game into extra-time, eventually winning 2–1.[63] Her second goal was in the final to give England the lead against Germany in the 62nd minute. England won 2–1 in extra-time, winning the tournament.[64] Since England's Euro victory, Toone has been described as an understated "big game player" and a "household name" by The Independent,[4] as well as a "super sub" by Goal.com, after her goals and assist from the bench.[65]
On 6 April 2023, at a sold-out Wembley stadium,[66] Toone scored the opening goal in the 2023 Women's Finalissima against Brazil, a game England won on penalties.[67] On 31 May, Toone was named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup,[68] becoming a regular starter in the tournament, after Fran Kirby's injury. After the first two group matches, according to Goal.com, her key metrics were down compared to that of the 2022 Euros, and analysed that she had not found enough space among the opposition, nor created enough goal scoring opportunities.[65] In the semi-final of the competition, Toone scored the opening goal for England in a 3–1 win against Australia as England reached their first ever World Cup final.[69] By scoring, Toone became the first England footballer, male or female, to score in a quarter-final, semi-final and final of a major tournament.[70]
Towards the end of 2024, Toone suffered a torn calf injury, meaning she was unable to play in the remaining England matches for the year.[73]
Great Britain Olympic
In May 2021, Toone was named to the Team GB squad as one of four reserve players for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.[74] She was forced to withdraw from the pre-Olympic training camp held for the English players in June 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19.[75] On 1 July 2021, the IOC and FIFA confirmed rosters would be expanded from 18 to 22 meaning the four reserve players would be available for selection to the matchday squad.[76] Toone was named to the bench for the opening group game against Chile and appeared as a stoppage time substitute in the 2–0 win.[77]
Toone is a childhood Manchester United fan, with Cristiano Ronaldo being one of her favourite players.[79] Since 12 years old, she has been friends with former United teammate Alessia Russo, with the pair describing themselves as "best friends".[80][81] Toone is in a relationship with footballer Joe Bunney and has a YouTube channel intended to provide a glimpse into her everyday life.[82][83][84]
In December 2023, Toone launched her own brand ET7, becoming the first England women's player to trademark her name, similar to Cristiano Ronaldo's CR7 brand, with the intention to launch her own football academy in 2024.[85][82] In April 2024, Toone and Russo, in collaboration with Radio 1's Vick Hope, started the BBC Sounds podcast series "The Tooney & Russo Show", giving "an exclusive peek into the England camp like never before" and featuring "Tooney's unfiltered opinions".[86]90min has described her growing off-pitch profile as a journey towards becoming an "influencer footballer".[87]
In September 2024, Ella revealed that she had lost her father 3 days before his 60th birthday.[88] On 25 October, during an international friendly against Germany, the England team wore black armbands as a mark of respect for her late father.[89]
^ abDrudge, Harriet (24 March 2022). "In profile: Ella Toone". Manchester United F.C. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
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