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]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Safia Middleton-Patel | ||
| Date of birth | 21 September 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | England, | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
| Number | 39 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –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 | 2 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 July 2024 | |||
Club career
editManchester United
editMiddleton-Patel joined Women's Super League club Manchester United from Liverpool in summer 2020. During the 2021–22 season, she was part of the under-21 team that won the WSL Academy League and Academy Cup double.[2] She was named to her first senior matchday squad for the club on 5 February 2022, a WSL match against Arsenal.[3] She signed her first senior professional contract with the club in January 2023.[4]
Loan spells
editIn November 2021, Middleton-Patel joined Blackburn Rovers of the Women's Championship on dual registration terms.[5] 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.[6] She was an unused substitute behind Sophie Harris as Leicester lost 3–2.[7]
On 11 February 2023, Middleton-Patel joined Championship club Coventry United on an emergency goalkeeper loan for a home match against Blackburn Rovers.[8] She made her senior debut the following day, starting as Coventry won 3–1.[9] In total she played three matches, conceding nine goals.
On 26 April 2023, Middleton-Patel returned to Blackburn Rovers on an emergency loan deal.[10] Four days later, she kept her first clean sheet in senior football as Blackburn beat Sunderland 1–0.[11]
On 19 January 2024, she joined Championship club Watford on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season.[12][13] She made a total of six appearances, keeping two clean sheets and conceding eight goals, as Watford finished last and were relegated.
International career
editYouth
editMiddleton-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
editIn 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.[14] 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.[15] She played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory for Wales.[16] She departed camp prior to the second game in order to appear for the under-19 team.[17]
Personal life
editMiddleton-Patel was born to an Indian father and a Welsh mother.[18][19] In September 2023, Middleton-Patel revealed via social media that she had recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.[20][21]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 28 April 2024.[1]
| 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 |
| 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 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
International
edit- Statistics accurate as of match played 16 July 2024.[1]
| Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d "S. Middleton-Patel - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
- ^ Wilkes, Louise (27 January 2023). "Man United WSL U21 academy make the finals for the second consecutive year". Manchester Evening News.
- ^ "Match Report Arsenal v United Women 5 February". www.manutd.com.
- ^ "Middleton-Patel signs first pro contract". www.manutd.com.
- ^ "Safia and Chloe are both Blues". Blackburn Rovers FC. 14 November 2021.
- ^ "Middleton-Patel Joins LCFC Women For Everton Trip". www.lcfc.com.
- ^ "The Toffees Take Three Points As Foxes Fall To WSL Reverse". www.lcfc.com.
- ^ "Safia Middleton-Patel: Coventry United sign Manchester United keeper on emergency loan". BBC Sport. 11 February 2023.
- ^ "Coventry United vs Blackburn match report". www.coventryunited.co.uk.
- ^ "Manchester United goalkeeper Middleton-Patel joins Blackburn Rovers on loan". FAWSL Full-Time. 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Report: Sunderland 0-1 Rovers". Blackburn Rovers FC. 30 April 2023.
- ^ "Safia Middleton-Patel joins Watford on loan". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Women: Hornets Sign Middleton-Patel". Watford F.C. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "FAW / Cymru squad announced for final 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers". www.faw.cymru. 6 October 2023.
- ^ "'Happy tears' for debutant keeper Middleton-Patel". BBC Sport.
- ^ "FAW / Cymru kick off 2023 with Pinatar Cup win against Philippines". www.faw.cymru. 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Cymru play out goalless draw with Iceland in Pinatar Cup". www.faw.cymru. 6 October 2023.
- ^ "THE STORY OF UNITED WOMEN'S GOALKEEPING UNION". manutd.com. 18 March 2022.
- ^ "Major documentary series on Wales' Black and Asian footballers released". nation.cymru. 17 July 2023.
- ^ Falk, Graham (5 September 2023). "Man Utd goalkeeper opens up on autism diagnosis and calls for more 'inclusivity and understanding'". Manchester World. National World. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Middleton-Patel: I want to be a role model". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
External links
edit- Safia Middleton-Patel at Soccerway