Ella Toone: From Lifelong Red Devil To Old Trafford Star

Ella Toone’s journey from being a devoted Manchester United supporter to a prominent player for the club is a story of passion, dedication, and determination. Born and raised in Manchester, Toone’s connection to the club runs deep, shaping her aspirations from a young age.

She is living the dream of playing for Manchester United and playing alongside Mary Earps, Nikita Parris and Hinata Miyazawa. As we delve into Toone’s remarkable trajectory, we witness the transformation of a fan into a key player for one of the most iconic football clubs in the world.

Player Profile – Ella Toone

Ella Toone joined Manchester United in 2018 marking the beginning of her professional journey. She quickly made an impact by scoring debut goals and breaking club records, including scoring seven consecutive goals in league matches. 

Toone has earned awards such as FA Women’s Championship Player of the Month and nominations for prestigious honours like the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Her inclusion in the Team GB squad as a player for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics adds another layer of accomplishment to her career, solidifying her status as a rising star in women’s football.

Player Profile Overview

Early Life

Ella Toone immersed herself in football from a young age. She spent hours honing her skills on the pitch, fueled by a deep love for the game. Her dedication and talent quickly became evident as she progressed through youth levels, catching the attention of coaches and scouts.

Supported by her family and fueled by her own determination, Toone’s early years set the stage for her eventual journey to professional soccer, where she would go on to make her mark on the sport.

Ella Toone’s Playing Style

Ella Toone’s playing style is characterized by versatility, technical proficiency, and a keen tactical understanding of the game. As an attacking midfielder or forward, Toone possesses excellent vision and passing ability, often orchestrating plays and creating scoring opportunities for her team.

Her dribbling skills and close ball control allow her to navigate through tight spaces and evade defenders effectively. Toone’s agility and quick footwork make her a dynamic presence on the field, capable of executing precise movements and exploiting gaps in the opposition’s defence.

Additionally, she demonstrates a natural instinct for goal-scoring, with a keen eye for goal and clinical finishing ability. Despite her relatively small stature, Toone compensates with tenacity, determination, and a strong work ethic, contributing both defensively and offensively.

Senior Career

Toone started her football journey with Manchester United’s youth team before joining Manchester City in 2016 from Blackburn Rovers due to the absence of a senior women’s team at United. Despite this, she continued to play with Blackburn in the National League while on dual registration terms.

Toone made her senior debut for Manchester City in July 2016 as a substitute in a Continental Cup match against Aston Villa, which they won 8-0. In May 2018, she was nominated for the FA Women’s Young Player of the Year award but was not the eventual winner, with the award going to Beth Mead.

Moving To Childhood Club Manchester United

In July 2018, Ella Toone joined Manchester United for their debut season in the FA Women’s Championship. She was one of seven players to return to the senior side after playing for the club at the youth level.

Ella Toone made her competitive debut as a substitute in a League Cup victory against Liverpool on 19 August. Just a few weeks later, on 9 September, she scored her first senior goal during her league debut in a dominant 12-0 win against Aston Villa.

Toone’s stellar performance earned her the title of FA Women’s Championship Player of the Month for February 2019, after scoring five goals in two league matches, including four against Leicester City on 13 February.

By 24 March 2019, she had scored seven consecutive goals in league matches, setting a club record for the most consecutive goals scored by an individual player, later equalled by Jessica Sigsworth.

Manchester United Player of the Year

In the 2019–20 season, Ella Toone showcased her scoring prowess by netting five goals in a League Cup group stage match, helping Manchester United secure a resounding 11–1 victory over Leicester City.

This impressive feat equalled the club record previously set by Sigsworth and also established Toone as the record holder for the most hat tricks in the club’s history, with her second hat trick.

Moving into the 2020–21 season, Toone committed her future to Manchester United by signing a new two-year contract, with an option for a third year. She concluded the season as the team’s top goal scorer, tallying ten goals across all competitions, in addition to providing five assists.

In the 2021–22 season, Toone continued to shine, emerging as the joint top assist provider alongside Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, with eight assists to her name. She also showcased her goal-scoring ability by finding the back of the net seven times.

Ella Toone’s contributions earned her a new contract extension until June 2025, announced in November 2021. She further solidified her status as a standout player by clinching the WSL Player of the Month award in December and being named Manchester United’s Player of the Year for the season.

Additionally, Ella Toone reached a significant milestone as the first player to make 100 appearances for the club. She cemented her place as a fan favourite and a key figure in Manchester United’s women’s team. Toone was nominated for the Young Player of the Year, eventually losing the award to Laura Hemp.

Winning the FA Cup with Manchester United

On November 10, 2022, Toone extended her contract with Manchester United until June 2026. Throughout the 2022–23 season, she contributed 8 assists and scored 3 goals. EllaToone aided United in securing second place in the WSL and qualifying for the Champions League second round.

In February 2023, Ella Toone had a red card and three-match ban overturned after an incident involving Tottenham’s Eveliina Summanen, who was later charged with simulation by the FA.

In the 2023–24 season, Toone played her debut Champions League game against PSG on October 10, 2023, describing it as an “unbelievable feeling.” Her consistent performance led coach Marc Skinner to praise her as a “permanent” class player.

Toone’s contributions were further recognized as she was voted Manchester United Women’s Player of the Month for both December 2023 and January 2024. She became the first United player to reach 150 appearances for the club.

Toone hit several milestones including providing an assist for Lucía García in front of a record-breaking Super League crowd at a sold-out Emirates Stadium. Additionally, she scored Manchester United Women’s first goal in the Women’s FA Cup Final, contributing to a 4-0 victory over Tottenham.

International Career

Ella Toone started her international career with the English U17 female team. She represented England at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan. Toone made her under-19 debut on 17 October 2017. She scored twice in a 9–0 win against Kazakhstan in a UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship qualification match.

Throughout the qualifying campaign, Toone scored a total of 5 goals as England finished second to Germany in the elite round. Although she was named in the 35-player shortlist for the England under-20 squad for the FIFA Women’s U20 World Cup in June 2018, Toone missed the competition through injury.

Senior Debut with the Three Lionesses 

Ella Toone made her senior international debut on 23 February 2021 by coming on as a substitute and scoring a penalty in a 6–0 friendly victory over Northern Ireland. Her standout moment came on 26 October 2021 when she netted a hat-trick against Latvia during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification.

In June 2022, Toone secured a spot in the England squad for UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. Throughout the tournament, she made impactful appearances as a substitute, scoring two crucial goals.

Her first goal, an 84th-minute equalizer against Spain in the quarter-finals, propelled the game into extra time, ultimately resulting in a 2–1 victory for England.

In the final against Germany, Toone once again found the back of the net, giving England the lead in the 62nd minute. England emerged triumphant with a 2–1 win in extra time, securing the championship title.

Following England’s Euro triumph, The Independent hailed Ella Toone as an understated “big game player” and a “household name.”

On 6 April 2023, in a packed Wembley stadium, Toone scored the opening goal in the 2023 Women’s Finalissima against Brazil, contributing to England’s victory on penalties.

Ella Toone Makes Her FIFA World Cup Debut

She was later named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she continued to make her mark. In the World Cup semi-final, Toone scored the opening goal against Australia, propelling England to their first-ever World Cup final.

With this goal, she became the first England footballer, male or female, to score in a quarter-final, semi-final, and final of a major tournament.

Toone continued her impressive form on 1 December, scoring a dramatic winning goal in injury time as a substitute in a 2023–24 Nations League group match against the Netherlands.

In May 2021, Toone was selected as one of four reserve players for the Team GB squad for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics. However, she had to withdraw from the pre-Olympic training camp for English players in June 2021 after testing positive for COVID-19.

With Team GB failing to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, Ella Toone and her teammates would not be gracing the occasion.

Ella Toone’s Personal Life

Ella Toone attended Fred Longworth High School and after finishing secondary school, She enrolled for a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma Sports Science course at Wigan and Leigh College. Toone is a lifelong Manchester United fan, naming Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo as one of her favourite players.

Ella Toone has a plaque in her honour at childhood club Astley & Tyldesley FC as part of the “Where Greatness Is Made” campaign.

Toone is in a romantic relationship with Joe Bunney, a former professional footballer who played for Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers and Grimsby Town. She also has a YouTube channel that gives fans a glimpse of her daily life and activities.

Ella Toone followed in the footsteps of one of her favourite players Cristiano Ronaldo to launch her own ET7 brand as Ronaldo’s CR7. She is also the first English female player to trademark her name. She intends to launch her football academy in England.

Conclusion

Ella Toone’s journey from fan to player with Manchester United is a testament to the power of passion, dedication, and perseverance. Her impact on the club and the broader football community is undeniable, inspiring fans and aspiring athletes alike.

As we reflect on Toone’s inspiring story, we are reminded of the transformative power of sport and the ability of individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness. With her unwavering commitment to excellence, Toone continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of football, embodying the spirit of Manchester United both on and off the pitch.