Emma Mukandi

Emma Mukandi ( Mitchell; born 19 September 1992) is a Scottish former professional footballer who last played for FA WC club London City Lionesses. She began her senior career with Glasgow City then joined Frauen-Bundesliga club SGS Essen. Primarily a defender, Mukandi has also played as a forward. Mukandi also plays for the Scotland national team.

Club career Born in Kirkcaldy, she grew up in the town of Buckhaven, Fife. Mukandi went on to become the only girl to play for her local high school team at the age of twelve. She started her career with St Johnstone Girls, alongside fellow future Frauen-Bundesliga player Lisa Evans, before both girls joined Scottish Women's Premier League champions Glasgow City in August 2008.

At the end of the 2012 season, Mukandi had a trial period in Denmark with earlier Champions League opponents Fortuna Hjørring, before heading for further trials in Sweden and Germany.

Mukandi signed professionally for Frauen-Bundesliga side SGS Essen in January 2013. After just four months, reports in Germany linked Mukandi with a transfer to English champions Arsenal. Arsenal confirmed the move on 22 July 2013.

Arsenal Whilst at Arsenal, Mukandi won an FA Cup in 2014 with WSL Cups coming in 2013 and 2015. With the Gunners, she also went on a successful run to the FA Cup final of 2016. Arsenal beat Chelsea 1–0 at Wembley and Mukandi lifted the 2016 FA Cup.

Mukandi made her 100th appearance for Arsenal in a 4–3 win over West Ham United in September 2018.

On 3 January 2020, it was announced that Mukandi would be joining Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the rest of the season.

Reading On 15 July 2020, Reading announced the signing of Mukandi from Arsenal. On 20 July 2022, Reading announced that Mukandi had returned to the club and signed a one-year contract, following the birth of her daughter. On 7 September 2022, Reading announced that Mukandi was their new club captain. Following the club's relegation from the Women's Super League to the Women's Championship, Mukandi announced that she would be leaving Reading.

London City Lionesses On 17 August 2023 London City Lionesses announced that they had signed Mukandi on a 2-year contract. On 9 August 2025, Mukandi announced her retirement.

International career After captaining both the national Under-17 and Under-19 teams, Mukandi made her debut with the senior Scottish national team against France in May 2011. Despite conceding a penalty in Scotland's 1–1 draw, her contribution was praised by coach Anna Signeul: "Emma Mitchell did really well on her first appearance. It is a shame that she conceded the penalty, it was just a bit of inexperience to be honest, but she didn't let her head go down and kept working hard."

Mukandi attended the Scottish Football Association National Performance Centre at the University of Stirling. She scored her first goal for the Senior women's side against Iceland in August 2012 and later that year scored against Spain in a 2013 UEFA Women's Euro Play-off defeat.

She was ruled out of the Scotland squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2017 by a hamstring injury. After injury disrupted her appearances for Arsenal in the 2018–19 season, she was left out of the squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France.

Mukandi was recalled to the Scotland squad in August 2022, as she resumed her playing career after giving birth in November 2021.

Personal life In October 2019, Mukandi spoke about her struggles with her mental health issues.

Mukandi was left out of the Scotland international squad in June 2021 as she had recently become pregnant. On 28 November 2021, she gave birth to a baby girl.

In August 2022, she married Head of Strength & Conditioning at Ipswich Town, Ivan Mukandi.

Career statistics Club

International

FA WSL: 2018–19 FA Cup: 2014, 2016 WSL Cup: 2013, 2015, 2017–18

Individual PFA Team of the Year: 2014–15