Heather Payne
Irish footballer (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Heather Margaret Payne (born 26 January 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Women's Super League club Leicester City and the Republic of Ireland national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Heather Margaret Payne[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 January 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Ballinasloe, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Position(s) | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Leicester City | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2023 | Florida State Seminoles | 60 | (6) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Peamount United | (13) | |
| 2018–2019 | Bristol City | 9 | (0) |
| 2023–2025 | Everton | 33 | (0) |
| 2025– | Leicester City | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015–2017 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 18 | (3) |
| 2018–2019 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 6 | (5) |
| 2018– | Republic of Ireland | 50 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 April 2019 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 12 August 2023 | |||
Club career
After playing three seasons with Irish side Peamount United F.C. in the Irish Women's National League, Payne signed with Bristol City in the English first division, the FA WSL, in August 2018.[2][3]
In August 2019, after a season with Bristol, Payne moved to the United States to take up a college scholarship with the Florida State Seminoles, who compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[4]
On 25 August 2023, following 4 years in the American college system, Payne signed for England's women's top tier Women's Super League club Everton on a 2-year deal.[5]
On 15 August 2025 Payne then signed for Women's Super League club Leicester City on a two year deal.[6]
International
Payne was named to the Ireland senior squad for a 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup-qualifying match against Northern Ireland in August 2018.[7] She made her debut for the team on 31 August 2018 playing as a wing-back.[8]
International appearances
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 1 | |
International goals
- Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first. Score column indicates score after each Payne goal. Updated as of 5 May 2023.
Honours
Florida State Seminoles