Niamh Louise Charles (/niːv/ NEEV, Irish: [ˈn̠ʲiəw];[2] 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 national team. Beginning her youth and senior career with Liverpool as a forward, she signed for Chelsea in 2020, where she is a five-time WSL winner, four-time FA Cup winner, two-time League Cup winner, and Champions League runner-up. Charles has represented England at U17 to U20 youth levels and made her senior debut for England in 2021. With England, she has won Euro 2025 and two Arnold Clark Cups, and was a World Cup runner-up in 2023.
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,[citation needed] she became a member of Liverpool's youth setup,[3] scoring two goals in two games for the under 17s in the 2014–15 season.[4]
After impressing in the academy, Charles made her senior debut in April 2016 in a draw against Sunderland.[5] 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.[5]
Following Liverpool's relegation at the end of the 2019–20 season, Charles signed for Chelsea.[6] Although primarily a forward in her youth and Liverpool days, Chelsea coach Emma Hayes deployed her as a full back or wing back on either flank. She won the treble in her first season, and was also the youngest starter on either side in the Champions League final, where Chelsea lost to Barcelona.[citation needed]
Charles won the double with Chelsea the season after, for a third time in 2022–23, establishing herself as a regular starter. A fourth consecutive title followed in the 2023-24 season when Charles also made the WSL team of the year. She suffered a dislocated shoulder in a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord, delaying her first competitive appearance under new coach Sonia Bompastor until December 2024. Under Bompastor, Chelsea remained unbeaten domestically through the season, clinching a second treble in four years with their FA Cup final win over Manchester United on 18 May 2025.[7]
In her youth career, Charles represented England at under-17, under-19, and under-20 levels.
During 2016 U-17 European Championship qualifying, Charles was the third-leading scorer for England with six goals.[8] She tied for the Bronze Boot at the final tournament with four goals, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win against Norway in the third-place match.[9] England's third place win qualified them for the 2016 U-17 World Cup,[8] where Charles played in all four matches as England were eliminated by Japan in the quarter-finals.[10]
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.[citation needed]
On 27 May 2021, it was announced that Charles had been selected as one of four reserve players for the Great Britain Olympic football team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[11] A year later, she was named in the pre-tournament squad for 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.[citation needed]
Charles has England legacy number 220. The FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[12]
On 31 May 2023, Charles was named to the squad for the 2023 World Cup in July 2023.[13] She played in two games during the tournament, featuring in the 6–1 win over China in the group stage and coming on in the semi final victory over hosts Australia.[citation needed]
On 6 June 2025, Charles was included in the squad for UEFA Euro 2025.[14] On 27 July 2025, she came on in the tournament's final as a substitute to replace Lucy Bronze during extra time, and scored a penalty in the shootout as England beat Spain 1-1 (3-1 on penalties).[15][16]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Continental[a] | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Liverpool | 2016 | Women's Super League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | Women's Super League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | Women's Super League | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 3 | |||
| 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 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 30 | 3 |
| 2021–22 | Women's Super League | 20 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Women's Super League | 21 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | 39 | 4 | ||
| 2023–24 | Women's Super League | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — | 36 | 3 | ||
| 2024–25 | Women's Super League | 12 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2025–26 | Women's Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 90 | 8 | 21 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 161 | 13 | ||
| Career total | 138 | 14 | 24 | 4 | 24 | 4 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 221 | 23 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 11 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | |
Chelsea
England
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