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Jess Carter
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Jessica Leigh Carter MBE (born 27 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club Gotham FC and the England national team. She began her senior career at Birmingham City and has represented England from under-19 to under-23 youth level.
Key Information
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In 2017, Carter was awarded PFA Young Player of the Year and named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year. With Chelsea, she has won multiple WSL titles, FA Cups, and League Cups; with England, Carter is a two-time European Championship winner, a Finalissima winner, as well as a World Cup runner-up.
Early life
[edit]Carter was born in England to an African American father and British mother, and holds both British and American citizenship.[3][4] As a youth, Carter captained the Warwick Juniors to the County Cup championship;[5] a plaque honouring Carter was installed at the club in 2022 as part of the "Where Greatness Is Made" campaign.[6]
Club career
[edit]Birmingham City
[edit]In June 2013, Carter joined the Birmingham City Academy.[7] In March 2014 at the age of 16, she made her debut for Birmingham City in a match against Arsenal in the first leg of the 2013–14 UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final.[8] She was subsequently named player of the match.[9]
Chelsea
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In June 2018, Carter joined Chelsea on a three-year contract from Birmingham City.[10] In the 2018–19 season she made only 16 starts in games, six of which came from the League Cup.[2]
Sports writer Jonathan Liew described it as a difficult patch in her early career, where she would be frequently late for training and miss fitness targets. According to Liew, she was put on a personalised diet and received "a certain micromanagement" by Chelsea staff, in order to get back her career on track.[8] Carter has credited manager Emma Hayes with her development both on and off the pitch.[11]
In January 2020, in the 2019–20 season, Carter scored her debut goal for the club in a 6–1 win over Bristol City.[12] On 2 May 2021, Carter helped Chelsea reach the Champions League final,[8] taking the free-kick that Pernille Harder would score from, to put the team ahead (on aggregate) in the 2nd leg of the 2020–21 Champions League semi final.[13] She featured in the final two weeks later as right-back, where she struggled against Barcelona's exceptional wide-play, resulting in a 4–0 defeat.[14] Carter nonetheless ended the 2020–21 season as a domestic treble winner with Chelsea.[13]
Carter had her career breakthrough during the 2021–22 season,[15] forming the key part of the defensive back three with teammates Millie Bright and Magdalena Eriksson.[16]
In October 2022, Carter extended her Chelsea contract to remain at the club as a defender until 2025.[17] On 23 November 2022,[18] Carter made her 100th appearance for the club against Real Madrid.[2]
Gotham FC
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On 29 July 2024, NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that they had signed Carter until 2026.[19]
On 25 May 2025, she started in the 2025 CONCACAF W Champions Cup final against Tigres, where Gotham won 1–0 to become the inaugural winners of the competition.[20] On 22nd of November, she won the NWSL Championship with Gotham.
After Gotham's opening four in the 2026 season, Carter received her first NWSL Team of the Month honor after helping her team keep three clean sheets in that timespan.[21]
International career
[edit]Youth
[edit]Carter has represented England in the U19, U20, U21 and U23 youth teams.[22][23][24][25]
In January 2014, during her debut for the England under-19 team, she scored against Norway.[26] In April, Carter played as a forward in the 2014 U-19 Championship qualification matches against Denmark and Finland, with England qualifying for the final tournament.[27] On 18 June 2014, she featured in the under-23 squad in the Nordic Tournament, losing 3–0 to Norway.[28] In July, Carter was named as part of the under-20 squad for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup,[29] as a forward player.[30]
After her senior international debut in 2017,[31] Carter was named in the under-21 squad as a defender for La Manga Tournament.[32] In April 2019, she featured as part of the starting eleven in England's 2–1 victory over France, followed by being sent off for a second bookable offence in a loss to Norway.[33]
Senior
[edit]In April 2017, after her earlier role as striker in England's youth teams, Carter received her first call up to the senior team, as a defender, for fixtures against Italy and Austria.[34] On 28 November 2017, she made her senior international debut in 2019 World Cup qualification against Kazakhstan, replacing Lucy Bronze in the 77th minute as England won 5–0.[31]
In June 2022, after not playing for the senior team from 2017 to 2021,[15] Carter was part the England squad which won the UEFA Women's Euro 2022,[35][36] playing a total of 16 minutes in the tournament.[37] In November 2022, Carter was allotted 201 in the FA legacy numbers scheme.[38]
In May 2023, Carter was named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[39] She started in five of six matches in the tournament, as an integral part of England's back three,[15] credited with ensuring the team only conceded three goals up until the final.[40] In the final and playing as a right-back, where England lost 1–0 to Spain, Carter was ranked second best player for England by BBC Sport, after goalkeeper Mary Earps.[41]
In June 2025, Carter was named to the England squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025.[42] During the tournament, she was subjected to racist abuse on social media, prompting police involvement.[43] Carter subsequently announced that she would step back from managing her social media accounts to safeguard her mental health and concentrate on supporting the team.[43][44][45] She returned to the starting eleven for the final, helping England secure a victory over Spain on penalties to claim their second European title.[46] A 59-year-old man was later arrested on suspicion of malicious communications in connection with the abuse and released under investigation.[47] In March 2026, the man was sentenced to six weeks in prison, with the sentence suspended for a year, as well as a four-year football banning order by District Judge Tony Watkin of the Blackburn Magistrates' Court.[48]
Style of play
[edit]Carter has been described by Jonathan Liew as calm in possession, relatively error-free, and with "exceptional read of the game".[8] According to The Independent, she is "one of the best one-on-one defenders in the Women's Super League".[3]
Early in her career from 2013 to 2018, Carter begun as a defender and midfielder for Birmingham City,[2] and in 2014, she played as a forward with England under-19s and under-20s.[27][30] With Chelsea, she started as a full-back in 2018 before becoming a centre-back. A right footed and versatile defender,[2][3] Carter has played both left-back and right-back for England and Chelsea,[15] but prefers not to play on the left. She believes her skills are best used as part of a back-three formation.[11]
Carter has identified her pace and ability to read the game as key strengths in her defensive play, stating in February 2024 that these attributes are her "super strength."[49]
Personal life
[edit]Since 2017, Carter has been in a relationship with fellow professional footballer Ann-Katrin Berger.[50][51] In May 2024, they announced their engagement.[52]
Carter is the Co-Founder and an ambassador for an all-female football academy run by former Barcelona & Arsenal youth player, Judan Ali.[53][54]
She also has a train named after her in England.[55]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 31 May 2026[56]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Continental[c] | Other | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Birmingham City | 2014 | WSL 1 | 12 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | 14 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||||
| 2016 | 16 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||||
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||||||
| 2017–18 | 18 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 94 | 1 | |||
| Chelsea | 2018–19 | WSL | 13 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | 8 | 1 | — | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | — | 15 | 1 | |||||
| 2020–21 | 9 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 21 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 1 | ||||
| 2022–23 | 17 | 2 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 31 | 3 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 21 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 89 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 1 | 31 | 0 | — | 155 | 5 | |||
| Gotham FC | 2024 | NWSL | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 5[e] | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | |||||
| 2026 | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 14 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 44 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 61 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 200 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 44 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 310 | 6 | ||
- ^ Includes the FA Cup
- ^ Includes the WSL Cup
- ^ Includes the UEFA Women's Champions League, CONCACAF W Champions Cup
- ^ Appearances in the NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
- ^ Two appearances in the 2024–25 tournament, three appearances in the 2025–26 tournament
- ^ Appearance in the FIFA Women's Champions Cup
International
[edit]- Statistics accurate as of match played 9 June 2026.
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 55 | 3 | |
- Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Carter goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 November 2021 | Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster, England |  Latvia
|
10–0 | 20–0 | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [57] |
| 2 | 23 February 2024 | Estadio Nuevo Mirador, Algeciras, Spain |  Austria
|
5–1 | 7–2 | Friendly | [58] |
| 3 | 9 June 2026 | Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England |  Ukraine
|
1–0 | 3–0 | 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | [59] |
Honours
[edit]Chelsea
- FA Women's Super League: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- FA Community Shield: 2020
- Women's FA Cup: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
- FA Women's League Cup: 2019–20, 2020–21
- UEFA Women's Champions League runner-up: 2020–21
Gotham FC
- CONCACAF W Champions Cup: 2024–25[60]
- NWSL Championship: 2025[61]
- FIFA Women's Champions Cup: Third place[62]
England
- FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up: 2023[41]
- UEFA Women's Championship: 2022,[63] 2025[46]
- Women's Finalissima: 2023[64]
- Arnold Clark Cup: 2022,[65] 2023[66]
Individual
- FA WSL PFA Team of the Year: 2017[67]
- PFA Young Player of the Year: 2016–17[68]
- Freedom of the City of London (announced 1 August 2022)[69]
- PFA Community Champion Award: 2022–23
- Chelsea Women's Player's Player of the Year: 2023–24[70]
- UEFA Women's Champions League Team of the Season: 2023–24[71]
- PFA Special Recognition Award: 2025[72]
- Key to the City of New York[73]
- The Guardian Footballer of the Year: 2025[74]
- Member of the Order of the British Empire: 2026[75]
References
[edit]- ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 – Squad List: England (ENG)" (PDF). FIFA. 11 July 2023. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Jess Carter". ChelseaFC. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
- ^ a b c "Who is Jess Carter? England defender in profile". The Independent. 7 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Getting to know Chelsea Women: Jess Carter". www.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Warwick Juniors Angels Win Girls Cup". Birmingham FA. 27 April 2013. Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "England's Euro 2022 winners honoured with gold plaques at local football clubs". 90min. 22 September 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ "Birmingham City sign up Warwick Juniors youngster". Leamington Courier. 16 June 2013. Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ a b c d Liew, Jonathan (18 August 2023). "How complex Jess Carter became England's stalwart of quiet calm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Debut delight for Jessica Carter". Birmingham City Football Club. 24 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ Frith, Wilf (19 June 2018). "Jess Carter joins Chelsea Women". SheKicks. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ a b Marsh, Charlotte (2 February 2024). "Jess Carter exclusive: How Chelsea's Emma Hayes and England's Sarina Wiegman have helped me". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Weir, Luke (14 July 2022). "Who England Lionesses defender Jess Carter is". Football.London. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ a b Wrack, Suzanne (2 May 2021). "Chelsea see off Bayern to set up first Champions League final with Barcelona". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Law, James (16 May 2021). "Chelsea thrashed by Barcelona in final". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d Sanders, Emma (19 August 2023). "England's Carter 'best version of herself' for final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Jess Carter signs new three-year Chelsea contract". OneFootball. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ "Jess Carter: Chelsea defender to stay at club until 2025". BBC Sport. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "History: Chelsea-Real Madrid". UEFA. 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Tonelli, Jenna (29 July 2024). "'[Gotham] will give me the confidence to try new things and improve': Jess Carter signs multi-year deal with Gotham FC – Equalizer Soccer". equalizersoccer.com. Archived from the original on 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ "Gotham FC Crowned Champions of Inaugural Concacaf W Champions Cup". Gotham FC. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ "NWSL Announces March Best XI of the Month, Presented by Amazon Prime". NWSL. 3 April 2026. Retrieved 3 April 2026.
- ^ Callow, James (5 April 2014). "Williamson leads England U19s to victory over Denmark". England FA. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Brandrick is a proud man after Carter's England debut". Leamington Courier. 8 February 2014. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "England Under 20 Squad Announced". FA WSL. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ "Jessica Carter". Flashscore. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Veevers, Nicholas (31 January 2014). "Thriller at SGP as Women's U19s draw with Norway". England FA. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- ^ a b
- "England-Denmark". UEFA. 5 April 2014. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- "Finland-England". UEFA. 10 April 2024. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "England women's U23s end tour with defeat to Norway". www.thefa.com. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "England squad named for Women's U20 World Cup". www.thefa.com. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ a b "England U20s all set for World Cup kick-off on Wednesday". www.thefa.com. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ a b "England-Kazakhstan". UEFA. 28 November 2017. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Mo Marley's England U21s set for games in La Manga with France, Sweden and Norway". www.thefa.com. 26 March 2019. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "England Women's U21s narrowly lose to Norway in their second game in La Manga". www.thefa.com. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Debut call-ups for Lawley and Carter". www.thefa.com. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Davies, Callum (15 June 2022). "England Women's final squad named for EURO 2022". England Football.com. The FA. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ Taylor, Louise (15 June 2022). "England Women's squad for Euro 2022: Wiegman's final 23 – in pictures". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Downey, Sophie (21 August 2023). "Women's World Cup 2023: how the England players rated". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "England woen's legacy and results archive". www.englandfootball.com. 18 November 2022. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ Gerty, David (31 May 2023). "England squad named for 2023 Women's World Cup". England Football. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Jess Carter: Prospect of facing Spain in World Cup final will not sway my nerves". The Independent. 19 August 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ a b Emma Sanders (20 August 2023). "Women's World Cup final: England lose to Spain in Sydney". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Sanders, Emma (5 June 2025). "James and Agyemang in England's Euro 2025 squad". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 5 June 2025. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
- ^ a b Stafford, Katie (20 July 2025). "Jess Carter: England defender says she has had 'a lot of racial abuse' at Euro 2025". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Zurich, Kit (20 July 2025). "England to stop taking knee after Jess Carter racially abused". The Times. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Wrack, Suzanne (20 July 2025). "England condemn racist 'online poison' aimed at Jess Carter during Euro 2025". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "England 1-1 Spain: Lionesses retain title with dramatic penalty victory as Chloe Kelly score winning kick". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ^ "Man, 59, arrested after racist and abusive messages sent to England football star Jess Carter". Sky News. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ Samuels, Ollie; Spina-Matthews, Sarah (25 March 2026). "Man who racially abused Jess Carter sentenced". BBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ Marsh, Charlotte (2 February 2024). "Jess Carter exclusive: How Chelsea's Emma Hayes and England's Sarina Wiegman have helped me". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ "Jess Carter on learning German". womenscompetitions.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
- ^ Cernik, Lizzie (19 December 2022). "How Jess Carter met Ann-Katrin Berger: 'As far as I knew I thought I was straight'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Instagram". Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Coach Ali wants to give local girls chance to play football". 8 August 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Interview with the Judan Ali Football Academy". 6 June 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ "Train named after Lioness ahead of Euro 2025". 2 July 2025.
- ^ "England - J. Carter - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
- ^ "England vs. Latvia - 30 November 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (23 February 2024). "England 7-2 Austria: Grace Clinton scores on debut as Lionesses win comfortably". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (9 June 2026). "England 3-0 Ukraine: England bound for World Cup play-offs despite win against Ukraine". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 10 June 2026. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ^ "Tigres UANL vs. Gotham FC 0 - 1". Soccerway. 24 May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Pardeep Cattry (23 November 2025). "NWSL Championship score: Gotham FC beat Trinity Rodman's Washington Spirit on Rose Lavelle's late goal". www.cbssports.com.
- ^ "Gotham clinch third with ASFAR rout". www.fifa.com.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (31 July 2022). "England beat Germany to win first major women's trophy". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
- ^ Sanders, Emma (6 April 2023). "England beat Brazil on penalties to win Finalissima". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "England 3 - 1 Germany". BBC Sport. 23 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "Arnold Clark Cup: England hit six v Belgium to retain trophy". BBC Sport. 22 February 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
- ^ The PFA FA WSL Team of the Year Archived 2 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine, thepfa.com, 20 April 2017, Retrieved 26 January 2024
- ^ Jess Carter wins PFA Young Player of the Year Archived 7 October 2023 at the Wayback Machine, thepfa.com, 23 April 2017, Retrieved 26 January 2024
- ^ "Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman given Freedom of the City of London after Euros win". ITV News. 1 August 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ "End of Season Award winners revealed!". Chelsea F.C. 7 May 2024. Archived from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
- ^ "2023/24 Women's Champions League Team of the Season". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 27 May 2024. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
- ^ @PFA (31 October 2025). "PFA special recognition awards were presented to four @Lionesses recently" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ^ Griffin, Tamerra (25 November 2025). "New York to honor NWSL champions Gotham FC with City Hall celebration" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Wrack, Suzanne (2 January 2026). "The Guardian Footballer of the Year Jess Carter: 'I remember not wanting to go out'" – via The Guardian.
- ^ https://www.gothamfc.com/news/jess-carter-appointed-member-of-the-order-of-the-british-empire
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jessica Carter.
- Jess Carter at England Football Association
- Jess Carter at the National Women's Soccer League
- Jess Carter at Chelsea FC
- Jess Carter at Soccerway
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Jess Carter
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Biography
Early life
Jessica Carter was born on 27 October 1997 in Warwick, England.[7][8] Her father is African American and her mother is British, granting her dual British and American citizenship.[9][10] She was raised in nearby Leamington Spa and grew up in a large family with American roots, often traveling to the United States for holidays.[11][12] Carter's introduction to football came early through local youth clubs; she began playing at Warwick Juniors, where she served as captain during her youth years.[12][13] Her talent emerged quickly, leading to her recruitment into Birmingham City's academy at age 15 in 2012.[14][15] Within months of turning 16 in October 2013, she transitioned to the senior team, making her professional debut in a UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal in March 2014.[4][15]Club career
Birmingham City
Carter joined the Birmingham City academy in June 2013 at the age of 15.[8] She made her senior debut for the club on 12 March 2014, aged 16, appearing as a substitute in the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal, where she earned the player of the match award.[4][2] During her time at Birmingham City, Carter primarily featured as a defender but also played in midfield roles, contributing to the team's campaigns in the FA Women's Super League.[16] In April 2017, Carter was awarded the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year, recognizing her development and performances as a 19-year-old defender for Birmingham City.[17] Over her four-and-a-half-year senior stint from January 2014 to June 2018, she accumulated 87 appearances and scored 1 goal across all competitions.[16] Birmingham City finished as runners-up in the 2014 FA Women's Cup and reached the 2017 UWCL quarter-finals during her tenure, though the club struggled with relegation from the WSL in 2017 before promotion back the following season.[4] Carter departed for Chelsea in July 2018, seeking greater competitive opportunities in the top flight.[16]Chelsea
Carter signed with Chelsea from Birmingham City in the summer of 2018, agreeing to a three-year contract.[18] In her debut 2018–19 season, she made 16 appearances across all competitions as Chelsea secured the Women's Super League (WSL) title and the FA Cup.[18] Over six seasons with Chelsea through 2023–24, Carter amassed 151 appearances and scored 5 goals, primarily operating as a center-back or left-back.[16] She contributed to 11 major trophies, including five WSL titles (2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24), three FA Cups (2018, 2021, 2022), and two League Cups (2020, 2021).[19][20] Her defensive contributions were notable in later campaigns; in 2022–23, she recorded 23 interceptions and 34 clearances in 17 appearances, while adding 2 goals and 1 assist.[2] During the 2023–24 WSL-winning season, she featured in 21 matches with 19 starts, helping maintain Chelsea's league dominance.[21][22] Carter's tenure solidified her as a reliable squad player who evolved into a starter under manager Emma Hayes, often praised for her composure and versatility in a high-pressing system.[19] She departed Chelsea in July 2024 after her contract expired, transferring to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League.[23]NJ/NY Gotham FC
On 29 July 2024, NJ/NY Gotham FC acquired defender Jess Carter from Chelsea FC Women for an undisclosed fee, signing her to a contract extending through the 2026 season.[21][20] The move marked Carter's first professional stint outside England, bringing her experience as a five-time Women's Super League champion to the National Women's Soccer League title holders.[21] Carter debuted for Gotham in the latter half of the 2024 NWSL regular season, starting all 10 matches she appeared in and logging 853 minutes.[2] She maintained her starting role into 2025, featuring in 22 regular-season games with 1,828 minutes played, zero goals, and zero assists.[16] Her contributions bolstered Gotham's backline, with the team advancing in competitions including the Concacaf W Champions Cup, where Carter participated as a key defender. By October 2025, Carter had amassed 43 appearances across both seasons with Gotham, establishing herself as a reliable presence in central defense and capable of shifting to full-back positions.International career
Youth career
Carter represented England at youth international levels from under-19 to under-23. Her debut came with the England U19 team on 31 January 2014, in a friendly match against Norway at St George's Park, where she entered as a half-time substitute and scored England's third goal in a 4–4 draw.[24] Initially deployed as a forward during her early U19 appearances, Carter contributed to qualifying efforts for the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship. She later earned caps for the U20 and U23 squads, showcasing positional versatility that foreshadowed her senior defensive role, prior to her first senior call-up in 2017.[3]Senior career
Carter made her senior international debut for England on 28 November 2017, appearing as a substitute in a 5–0 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying victory over Kazakhstan at Colchester United's JobServe Community Stadium.[3][25] Following her debut, Carter received limited call-ups between 2018 and 2021, accumulating minimal appearances as she established herself at club level with Chelsea.[26] Her international breakthrough occurred in 2022 when she was selected for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 squad hosted in England. Carter featured in the group stage match against Northern Ireland on 15 July 2022, entering as a substitute and contributing to the 5–0 win that helped secure England's progression; she played a total of 16 minutes across the tournament as the Lionesses won the title, defeating Germany 2–1 in the final on 31 July.[3][12] Carter retained her place for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, where England reached the final but lost 1–0 to Spain on 20 August 2023; she started in the semi-final against Australia, helping secure a 3–1 extra-time victory.[27] Carter scored her first senior international goal on an unspecified date prior to 2025, contributing to her tally of two goals from 52 caps as of October 2025.[28] She was included in the England squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025, starting all four of her appearances during the tournament, which England won after overcoming challenges including a penalty shoot-out victory over Sweden in the quarter-finals on 17 July 2025 and a 2–1 extra-time win against Italy in the semi-finals on 22 July.[29][30][31] By July 2025, she had reached 50 caps during the competition.[32]Playing style
Defensive attributes
Carter has consistently highlighted her defensive prowess as a core strength, stating in a 2025 interview that she has "always prided [herself] on defensive attributes," though she adapted by enhancing her anticipation against quicker opponents encountered in the NWSL.[33] Player evaluation platform WhoScored rates her as strong in tackling—where she actively engages—and aerial duels, reflecting her physicality and willingness to contest headers effectively.[34] Her one-on-one defending stands out, positioning her among the Women's Super League's elite in this facet, with Carter describing such moments as a source of personal fulfillment due to their intensity and isolation from broader team dynamics.[35] During her tenure at NJ/NY Gotham FC, she achieved a 62.5% duel success rate and 66.7% in aerial challenges, complemented by 20 interceptions and 21 clearances, demonstrating reliability in regaining possession and clearing threats.[2] Analyses portray her as a diligent, no-nonsense centre-back who thrives in structured systems, relying on positional awareness and support to maximize her combative style rather than solo recoveries.[36] This approach has yielded high match ratings in central roles, averaging 6.98 out of 10 in recent outings as a centre-back.[34]Versatility and distribution
Jess Carter exhibits notable versatility in defensive roles, capable of playing as a centre-back, left-back, right-back, or wing-back in a back three formation. She has also operated in midfield during her early career with Birmingham City and youth teams. Despite being right-footed, Carter adapts effectively to left-sided positions, contributing to both England and club defenses across multiple systems.[37][33][34] Carter's distribution from defense is characterized by strong passing accuracy and composure under pressure, enabling progressive play from the back. During the 2023-2024 season with Chelsea, she achieved an 87.7% pass completion rate, including 139 successful long passes out of 201 attempted and 92 progressive passes. Her strengths in holding possession and accurate distribution are highlighted in scouting assessments, with overall pass accuracy reaching 88.9% across recent matches. In the 2025 season with NJ/NY Gotham FC, she maintained an 88.4% completion rate, underscoring her reliability in transitioning play.[38][34][16]Personal life
Relationships
Carter has been in a relationship with German professional footballer Ann-Katrin Berger since 2016.[39] The pair first met while playing for Birmingham City, initially as flatmates, before their relationship became romantic.[40] Berger, a goalkeeper, joined Chelsea in 2019, reuniting with Carter who had moved there in 2018; the couple lived together in London at the time.[40] In May 2024, Carter and Berger announced their engagement via social media.[41] By July 2024, Carter transferred to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League, where Berger had already signed, allowing the couple to continue playing together professionally.[42] As of July 2025, they were planning their wedding while maintaining their partnership amid international commitments, including facing off in the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final between England and Germany.[39][43]Interests and advocacy
Carter dedicates significant free time to fundraising for cancer research, a cause motivated by the diagnoses of her partner, Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, with desmoid tumors in 2021, and her sister Amelia with thyroid cancer.[4][44] In a March 2023 interview, she described balancing support for their treatments with her playing career, emphasizing football's role in providing mental respite from the challenges of illness and the need for greater awareness and funding for research.[44] Following receipt of extensive online racial abuse during UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in Switzerland, where she was targeted as a mixed-race player, Carter has publicly advocated for classifying such incidents as hate crimes warranting prosecution equivalent to offline assaults.[45][46] In August 2025, she stated regret for not addressing the abuse earlier, crediting family, teammates, and fans for aiding her resilience, and affirmed her commitment to continued public discourse despite the personal toll.[46][47] This stance aligns with broader calls within English women's football for enhanced institutional responses to digital racism, beyond symbolic gestures like taking the knee.[48]Controversies
Racial abuse during UEFA Women's Euro 2025
During the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 tournament in Switzerland, England defender Jess Carter received online racial abuse starting from the competition's early stages. On July 20, 2025, Carter publicly disclosed the "vile" messages she had endured, stating they prompted her to step back from social media to protect her mental health.[30][49] The abuse occurred amid England's campaign, which culminated in a quarterfinal penalty shootout victory over Sweden and a final win against Spain on July 27, 2025.[50] In response, the England women's national team issued a joint statement announcing they would cease taking the knee before matches, asserting that the gesture had failed to curb racism and that alternative approaches were needed.[49] The Football Association reported the abuse to authorities and urged social media platforms to enhance moderation efforts, with chief executive Mark Bullingham criticizing insufficient progress in preventing such incidents.[51] FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed solidarity, condemning the abuse and affirming support for affected players.[52] Carter's club, NJ/NY Gotham FC, also voiced outrage and heartbreak over the targeted harassment.[53] Lancashire Police arrested a 59-year-old man on August 28, 2025, in connection with racist messages sent to Carter during the tournament; he was later released under investigation.[54] A second arrest followed on September 4, 2025, involving a 30-year-old man in Derbyshire as part of the ongoing probe.[55] Reflecting in August 2025, Carter expressed regret for not speaking out earlier and credited support from family, teammates, and fans for helping her cope.[46] She also revealed fearing disproportionate racist backlash for black teammate Lauren James after a penalty miss in the Sweden shootout, feeling relief when white players, including herself, also failed in the shootout, potentially diffusing targeted abuse.[56] Carter later advocated for stronger accountability from social media companies in policing hate speech.[45]Career statistics
Club statistics
Carter began her senior club career with Birmingham City in the FA Women's Super League (FA WSL), making 25 league appearances and scoring 1 goal between the 2017 and 2017–18 seasons.[38] She joined Chelsea in 2018, where she accumulated 89 league appearances and 3 goals in the FA WSL from the 2018–19 to 2023–24 seasons, contributing to multiple domestic titles.[38] In July 2024, Carter transferred to NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), recording 32 league appearances with no goals through the 2025 season.[38] These figures reflect domestic league matches only; total club appearances across all competitions exceed 200, with Chelsea alone accounting for over 150 outings.[19][57]| Club | League | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham City | FA WSL | 25 | 1 |
| Chelsea | FA WSL | 89 | 3 |
| NJ/NY Gotham FC | NWSL | 32 | 0 |
| Career total | 146 | 4 |
International statistics
As of October 2025, Jess Carter has earned 51 caps for the England women's senior national team, scoring 2 goals since her debut on 28 November 2017 in a 5–0 win against Kazakhstan.[3][25] Carter was included in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022, where England won the title; she made one substitute appearance, totaling 16 minutes against Northern Ireland in the group stage.[3] At the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, she started five matches during the group stage as England reached the final.[3] Carter played a key defensive role in England's successful title defense at UEFA Women's Euro 2025, starting five of the six matches, including the final victory over Spain.[3]Honours
Club honours
Chelsea (2018–2024)- FA Women's Super League: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24[25][23]
- FA Women's Cup: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24[23][20]
- FA Women's League Cup: 2019–20, 2020–21[23]
- FA Women's Community Shield: 2020[23][58]