Katy Watson
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Katy Evelyn Watson (born 20 October 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Championship club Sunderland and the England under-19 team.
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Watson playing for Sunderland in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Katy Evelyn Watson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 20 October 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | England | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sunderland | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sunderland | |||
| Sunderland & Gateshead | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Sunderland | 56 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2023– | England U19 | 10 | (4) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 July 2024 | |||
Youth career
Watson joined Sunderland aged 9, after trialing for Newcastle United. Along with her teammates at senior level, she played boys football prior to joining the girls team.[2][3]
Watson played for Sunderland & Gateshead under-14s, scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances,[4] followed by scoring 6 goals in as many games for the under-16s.[5] She went on to play for Sunderland's under-21 side, scoring a combined 10 goals in 5 appearances for the A and B teams.[6][7]
Club career
On 28 January 2022, Sunderland announced the signing of Watson to the first team.[8]
On 28 March 2022, Watson scored her debut senior goal for Sunderland against Watford within seven minutes of coming on as a second-half substitute, helping the team to win 2–1.[9]
On 25 October 2023, after 39 appearances for Sunderland, Watson signed her first professional contract with the club aged 18.[2] She was subsequently voted Women's Young Player of the Year for 2023 by the North East Football Writers.[10]
International career
On 5 April 2023, Watson scored her debut goal for the England under-19 team in a 2023 U19 Championship qualification match against Slovenia, a last minute equaliser to secure a 1–1 draw.[11]
In October 2023, for 2024 U19 Championship qualification, Watson scored in injury time against Greece in a 2–0 win, followed by the third goal in the 6–1 victory over Wales.[12][13] She went to play in the second round qualification matches against Switzerland and Italy as the number 7 wide attacker.[14][15] On 14 July in the final tournament, Watson scored the second goal in England's 10–0 victory over Lithuania in the opening group stage match.[16]
Honours
Individual
- Sunderland Women's Young Player of the Year: 2022–23[17]
- North East Football Writers Women's Young Player of the Year: 2023[10]
