Super Falcons midfielder Toni Payne signs for English Women Soccer League side Everton

SUPER Falcons midfielder Toni Payne has completed a move to English Women Soccer League (WSL) side Everton for an undisclosed sum ending her six year sojourn in Spain with la Liga club Sevilla.

A versatile player, Payne, 29, who has 21 Nigerian caps is Everton's first signing of the summer for Brian Sorensen’s side scored 31 goals in 170 club appearances for Sevilla and Ajax over the course of her career. She was part of the Falcons’ squad that competed at the 2023 World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, that was narrowly beaten on penalties by England in the round of 16.

Payne said: “I’m super excited to be an Everton player. It’s been my dream to play in the UK and in such a strong league like the WSL. I’m excited to have the opportunity to play at a club like Everton with so much history in football.

“Now was the right moment for me to look for another challenge to push myself. It’s going to be different and new and I’m really happy about my decision. I’m impressed with how the league is investing in teams and the league itself,” she continued. I see such a rapid growth and it’s something that I’m really excited and eager to be a part of.”

During the World Cup campaign, Nigeria played the Republic of Ireland where Payne competed against two players who will now be her team mates at Everton. Heather Payne and Courtney Brosnan both play for the club and Payne said she looks forward to playing alongside them, pointing out that the opportunity to develop further under the guidance of manager Sorensen is something that excites her.

Payne added: “You can see just how much the players are growing here at Everton. I think this is going to be a great fit for me because that’s what I want. I want to grow, I want to improve and this is the perfect place for me to achieve that."

Mr Sorensen said: “I’m extremely happy to bring Toni to the club. She is exactly the type of player we need. I’m 100% confident Toni can fit right into our team and into this league because she has a wealth of experience from Spain but also for the Nigeria national team.

“She can play multiple positions and is an intelligent player who is really fast. A player without any injury history, too, so we are confident she will be a big success for us.

“The way we play, it’s very dynamic. We don’t operate with a typical front three, it’s more so about filling the right spaces and having the ability to create opportunities. That’s where she will fit in very well.

“Toni can play across the front line and in behind but can also do combination play and drop into midfield. All of these qualities make her a great asset and she will be an important player for us.”