Ella Toone

Manchester United Toone (centre) playing for Manchester United against Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019.

2018–19 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, 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. Toone finished the season as United's top goal scorer, with ten goals in all competitions, as well as five assists.

2021–22 Toone (left) playing for Manchester United against Lewes in 2023. 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. On 20 November 2021, it was announced that Toone had signed a new contract until June 2025. She became WSL Player of the Month in December, playing every minute of Manchester United's WSL games that month. 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.

2022–23 On 10 November 2022, Toone signed a further contract extension until June 2026. 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. In February 2023, Toone had a red card and three-match ban overturned, after being sent off for pushing Tottenham's Eveliina Summanen. Summanen was later charged with simulation and deceiving officials over the incident by the FA, and given a two-match ban.

2023–24

On 10 October 2023, Toone played her first Champions League game against PSG, describing it as an "unbelievable feeling". United were subsequently defeated 3–1 in the return leg with Toone hitting the post. On 5 November, during the 2023–2024 season, Toone ended her year-long club "goal drought", by scoring a stunning goal against Brighton in a 2–2 draw. Considered a key player for the team, in November 2023, Marc Skinner has described her class as "permanent".

Toone was voted Manchester United Women's Player of the Month for December 2023 with 62% of the fan vote, as well as for January 2024 with 49% of the vote, after becoming the first United player to make 150 appearances for the club. 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.

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. The goal from the edge of the box was described as a "screamer" and a "wondergoal", and was later voted Manchester United Women's Goal of the Season by fans.

2024–25 Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Toone was named vice-captain of the club. In November 2024, she suffered a torn calf during training. This ended her run of 96 consecutive league appearances for United, the longest for an outfield player at a single club in the history of the WSL. United manager Marc Skinner confirmed she would be unable to play until January 2025 at earliest.

On 11 January 2025, having returned from injury after missing six games, Toone scored as a substitute against West Bromwich Albion in the fourth round of the 2024–25 FA Cup. The following week, on 19 January, she scored her first WSL hat-trick in a 4–2 away victory in the Manchester derby, resulting in four goals within five games since returning from injury.

2025–26 Toone made her 200th appearance for Manchester United during their 1–0 Champions League victory against Atlético Madrid on 16 October 2025, becoming the first women's player to reach that milestone.

In December 2025, having scored three goals and leading the league with five assists, Toone sustained a hip injury described by manager Marc Skinner as a "a bone stress response", ruling her out for an estimated six to eight or ten weeks. The following month, she signed a contract extension with United.

International career

Youth Toone represented England at the 2016 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Jordan. On 17 October 2017, Toone made her under-19 debut in an UEFA Under-19 Championship qualification match against Kazakhstan, scoring twice in a 9–0 win. She scored 5 across the qualifying campaign as England finished second to Germany in the elite round. In June 2018, Toone was part of the 35-player shortlist to make the England under-20 squad for the FIFA U20 World Cup, but was ruled out through injury.

Senior 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. 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. She scored a hat-trick on 26 October 2021 against Latvia during 2023 FIFA World Cup qualification.

In June 2022, Toone was included in the England squad for UEFA Euro 2022. 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. 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. Since England's Euro victory, Toone has been described as an understated "big game player" and a "household name" by The Independent, as well as a "super sub" by Goal.com, after her goals and assist from the bench.

On 6 April 2023, at a sold-out Wembley stadium, Toone scored the opening goal in the 2023 Finalissima against Brazil, a game England won on penalties. On 31 May, Toone was named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, 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. 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.

On 1 December 2023, Toone scored a dramatic winning goal in injury time as a substitute in a 2023–24 Nations League group match against the Netherlands.

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.

On 6 June 2025, Toone was named in England's squad for UEFA Euro 2025. She scored once, against Wales in the 21st-minute, a game which was eventually won 6–1. She started the final against Spain, getting subbed off in the 87th-minute. England won the final, winning the penalty shootout 3–1 and securing a second consecutive Euros Championship.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Personal life

Since 12 years old, Toone has been friends with former United teammate Alessia Russo, with the pair describing themselves as "best friends". Toone is in a relationship with footballer Joe Bunney and has a YouTube channel intended to provide a glimpse into her everyday life. The couple became engaged then married on 1 July 2026.

In December 2023, Toone launched her own brand ET7, becoming the first England women's player to trademark her name, with the intention to launch her own football academy in 2024. 90min has described her growing off-pitch profile as a journey towards becoming an "influencer footballer".

On the day of the 2022 Euro final, Toone's father, Nick Toone was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He died in September 2024, three days before his 60th birthday. The following month, 25 October 2024, during an international friendly against Germany, the England team wore black armbands as a mark of respect for her late father. She later talked candidly about the impact his death had on her play that season, saying, "I played on after that and probably wasn't enjoying it as much as I should have been. I would never have told myself that or admitted it because all I ever wanted to do was play football for him." On 31 July 2025, Toone said that her grandmother had died four days earlier, on the morning before the UEFA Euro 2025 final, in which Toone played the opening 87 minutes for the winning England side.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours Toone holding the Championship trophy after winning the 2018–19 season with Manchester United. Manchester City FA WSL: 2016 FA WSL Cup: 2016

Manchester United FA Women's Championship: 2018–19 Women's FA Cup: 2023–24; runner-up: 2022–23, 2024–25 Women's League Cup runner-up: 2025–26

England U17 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship third place: 2016

England

FIFA Women's World Cup runner-up: 2023 UEFA Women's Championship: 2022, 2025 Women's Finalissima: 2023 Arnold Clark Cup: 2022, 2023

Individual Manchester United Player of the Year: 2021–22, 2023–24, 2024–25 Freedom of the City of London (announced 1 August 2022) FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11: 2023 Order Order of the British Empire : (MBE) 2026 New Year Honours