Anna Patten

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Anna Patten

| image = Anna Patten Arsenal LFC v Kelly Smith All-Stars XI (212) (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 230 px

| caption = Patten with Arsenal in 2017

| fullname = Anna Rose Patten

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|04|20}}{{cite web |title=Anna Patten: England profile|url=https://www.thefa.com/england/womens-seniors/squad/anna-patten |publisher=The Football Association |access-date=8 January 2021}}

| birth_place = Harpenden, England

| height = {{convert|1.78|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| currentclub = Aston Villa

| clubnumber = 4

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Arsenal

| collegeyears1 = 2017–2018

| college1 = Florida State Seminoles{{cite web |title=Anna Patten |url=https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/ |publisher=Florida State University |access-date=8 January 2021 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326015558/https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/ |url-status=dead }}

| collegeyears2 = 2019–2020

| college2 = South Carolina Gamecocks{{cite web |title=Anna Patten – Women's Soccer – University of South Carolina Athletics |date=24 June 2019 |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/anna-patten/7038 |publisher=University of South Carolina |access-date=8 January 2021}}

| collegecaps1 = 41

| collegegoals1 = 4

| collegecaps2 = 32

| collegegoals2 = 4

| years1 = 2017

| clubs1 = Arsenal

| caps1 = 8

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2021–2023

| clubs2 = Arsenal

| caps2 = 11

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2022–2023

| clubs3 = → Aston Villa (loan)

| caps3 = 26

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2023–

| clubs4 = Aston Villa

| caps4 = 37

| goals4 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2014

| nationalteam1 = England U15

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 2015–2017

| nationalteam2 = England U17

| nationalcaps2 = 14

| nationalgoals2 = 3

| nationalyears3 = 2017

| nationalteam3 = England U19

| nationalcaps3 = 6

| nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2017–2018

| nationalteam4 = England U20

| nationalcaps4 = 8

| nationalgoals4 = 1

| nationalyears5 = 2019

| nationalteam5 = England U21

| nationalcaps5 = 7

| nationalgoals5 = 0

| nationalyears6 = 2024–

| nationalteam6 = Republic of Ireland

| nationalcaps6 = 14

| nationalgoals6 = 3

| club-update = 3 March 2025

| nationalteam-update = 3 December 2024

}}

Anna Rose Patten (born 20 April 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Aston Villa. Born in England, she is a member of the Republic of Ireland national team. Patten previously played college soccer for the Florida State Seminoles and the South Carolina Gamecocks in the United States, and has represented England at multiple youth levels from under-15 up to under-21.

Early life

Patten grew up in Harpenden, England, a commuter town outside London. A childhood Arsenal fan, Patten joined the Arsenal Academy at 12 years of age. With the youth sides she won the FA Youth Cup, in 2015 and 2016. After years of development in the academy ranks, Patten made her senior side debut in 2017 aged 18.

College career

=Florida State Seminoles=

In her freshman year at Florida State, Patten made 18 appearances , including 13 starts. Utilized primarily as a defender and holding midfielder, she tallied two assists during the season.

In her sophomore season she made 12 starts and played in 23 matches. She scored four goals and made two assists. Patten and the Seminoles won the 2018 ACC Women's Championship & the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament.{{cite web|title=Anna Patten|url=https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/|publisher=Florida State Seminols|access-date=19 June 2021|archive-date=26 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326015558/https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/|url-status=dead}}

=South Carolina Gamecocks=

Patten transferred to the South Carolina Gamecocks as a rising junior. She joined England U21 teammate Grace Fisk at the university who helped with the transfer process.{{cite web |title=A'Don't be a melt.' These Brits guide South Carolina soccer with stellar play, lingo|url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/other-usc-sports/article237591969.html|publisher=The State|date=21 November 2019 |access-date=19 June 2021}} The pair helped the Gamecocks post 15 shutouts in their first 21 matches of the 2019 season. They helped South Carolina to a 2019 SEC-Soccer Championship. Patten was named the All-SEC second team and made the SEC Academic Honour Roll.

The Southeastern Conference was one of the conferences which opted to play their 2020 NCAA women's soccer tournament in the fall with a reduced 10 game season. Patten was named captain of the side for the fall campaign. She played the second most minutes of anyone on the team and was named to the All-SEC First Team.{{cite web |title=Anna Patten|date=24 June 2019 |url=https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/anna-patten/7038|publisher=Gamecocks onlineaccess-date=19 June 2021}}

She graduated with a degree in sociology.{{cite web |title=Arsenal's Anna Patten on her American adventure, Gunners dream team and life after the WSL|url=https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/players/anna-patten-leah-williamson-arsenal-19805574|publisher=The State|date=10 February 2021|access-date=19 June 2021}}

Club career

=Arsenal=

Patten made her senior side debut in a Champion's league match against Bayern Munich in February 2017. She made her league debut in April 2017, during the FA WSL Spring Series. She went on to play every game of that series. Patten then departed Arsenal to play college soccer in the United States. She returned to the club on 7 January 2021.{{cite web |title=Anna Patten re-signs for Arsenal|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/anna-patten-re-signs-arsenal |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |date=7 January 2021 |access-date=8 January 2021}}

On 17 January 2021 Patten made her second Arsenal debut against Reading in the FA WSL in a game which would end 1–1, in which she played 45 minutes.{{cite web |title=Arsenal bring back centre-back Anna Patten|url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/sport/arsenal-bring-back-defender-anna-patten-6889446|date=7 January 2021 |access-date=19 June 2021}} On 28 February Patten came on for her second game this time against Aston Villa where she played the final ten minutes in a game which would end 4–0 to Arsenal. On 19 March Patten would come on as a substitute again in the league this time against Manchester United for the final four minutes a game in which Arsenal would win 2–0. Patten's fourth appearance would also be as a substitute this time against North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in game which would finish 3–0 to Arsenal.

On 18 April 2021 Patten would score her first goal for Arsenal in a FA Cup match against Gillingham in a game that would finish 10–0 to Arsenal.{{cite web |title=Anna Patten can reflect on successful campaign back at Arsenal|url=https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/sport/anna-patten-can-reflect-on-successful-campaign-8001710|publisher=Islington Gazette|date=26 May 2021 |access-date=19 June 2021}}

==Aston Villa (loan)==

It was announced on 4 January 2022 that Patten had joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.{{cite web |title=Anna Patten joins Villa Women |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2022/january/04/anna-patten-joins-villa-women-/|date= 4 January 2022}} She returned on loan for the full 2022–23 season.{{Cite web |date=7 July 2022 |title=Anna Patten joins Aston Villa on loan |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/anna-patten-joins-aston-villa-loan-0 |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=Arsenal F.C. |language=en}}

= Aston Villa =

On 11 July 2023, Patten completed a permanent transfer to Aston Villa.{{Cite web |date=11 July 2023 |title=Anna Patten leaves club |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/anna-patten-leaves-club |access-date=11 July 2023 |website=Arsenal F.C. |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Anna Patten signs permanent deal with Villa Women! |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/11/anna-patten-signs-permanent-deal-with-villa-women-/ |website=Aston Villa Football Club |date=11 July 2023}}

International career

=England=

Patten has been part of several England youth teams. She made her first appearance on the U-15 team in 2014. Two years later Patten was part of the England 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup which reached the quarterfinals. In 2018 she was part of the England U20 which finished third at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in France.

=Republic of Ireland=

In March 2024, Patten received her first senior call up to the Republic of Ireland squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying matches against France and England. Patten is eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland through her Irish grandparents.{{cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/march/28/anna-patten-to-represent-republic-of-ireland/|title=Anna Patten to represent Republic of Ireland|website=Aston Villa Football Club|date=28 March 2024|access-date=28 March 2024}} She made her debut for the team during a 1–0 defeat against France on 5 April 2024.{{cite web |title=France 1-0 Ireland WNT |url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-france-1-0-ireland-wnt/ |website=Football Association of Ireland |access-date=6 April 2024 |date=5 April 2024}} She scored her first goal for Ireland in a 3–1 victory against France on 16 July.{{cite web |title=Republic of Ireland vs France: UEFA Women's Championship Qualification |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/ce586r4z0znt |website=BBC Sport |access-date=29 September 2024 |date=16 July 2024}} Patten scored in Ireland's Euro 2025 play off final 2-1 defeat to Wales on 3 December.

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 9 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=England - A. Patten - Profile with news, career statistics and history |url=https://my.soccerway.com/players/anna-patten/387529/ |website=Soccerway |access-date=28 November 2023}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Women's FA Cup}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes FA Women's League Cup}} !colspan="2"\|Continental{{efn\|Includes UEFA Women's Champions League}} !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="5" \|Arsenal \|2017 \|Women's Super League \|8	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2" \|—	8	0
2020–21 \|Women's Super League \|7	0	0	0	0	0	colspan="2" \|—	7	0
2021–22 \|Women's Super League \|4	0	0	0	0	0	7	1	11	1
2022–23 \|Women's Super League \|0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
colspan="2" \|Total !19	0	0	0	0	0	7	1	26	1
rowspan="2" \|Aston Villa (loan) \|2021–22 \|Women's Super League \|7	0	1	0	0	0	colspan="2" \|—	8	0
2022–23 \|Women's Super League \|19	0	3	0	3	1	colspan="2" \|—	25	1
rowspan="3" \|Aston Villa \|2023–24 \|Women's Super League \|22	1	1	0	4	0	colspan="2" \|—	27	1
2024–25 \|Women's Super League \|15	1	3	1	3	0	colspan="2" \|—	21	2
colspan="2" \|Total !63	2	8	1	10	1	colspan="2" \|—	81	4
colspan="3" \|Career total !82	2	8	1	10	1	7	1	107	5

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="2" \|Republic of Ireland \|2024	10	2
2025 \|4 \|1
colspan="2" \|Total	14	3

:Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Patten goal.

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Anna Patten
scope="col"\|No. !scope="col"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition
align="center"\|1 \|{{sortdate\|2024\|07\|16\|format=dmy}} \|Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland \|{{fbw\|FRA}} \|align="center"\|3–1 \|align="center"\|3–1 \|UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification
align="center"\|2 \|3 December 2024 \|Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland \|{{fbw\|WAL}} \|align="center"\|1–2 \|align="center"\|1–2 \|UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification
align="center"\|3 \|8 April 2025 \|Tallaght Stadium, Dublin \|{{fbw\|GRE}} \|align="center"\|2–0 \|align="center"\|2–1 \|2025 UEFA Women's Nations League

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Anna Patten

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

align="center"|1

|{{sortdate|2024|07|16|format=dmy}}

|Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Ireland

|{{fbw|FRA}}

|align="center"|3–1

|UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification

align="center"|2

|3 December 2024

|Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland

|{{fbw|WAL}}

|align="center"|1–2

|UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification

align="center"|3

|8 April 2025

|Tallaght Stadium, Dublin

|{{fbw|GRE}}

|align="center"|2–0

|align="center"|2–1

|2025 UEFA Women's Nations League

Honours

Florida State Seminoles

NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship: 2018

Arsenal

Women's FA Cup runner-up: 2020/21

References

External links

[https://www.thefa.com/england/womens-seniors/squad/anna-patten Profile] at the Football Association website
[https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/ Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326015558/https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/ |date=26 March 2023 }} at the Florida State Seminoles website
[https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/womens-soccer/roster/anna-patten/7038 Profile] at the South Carolina Gamecocks website
{{UEFA player}}
{{Soccerway}}

Category:1999 births

Category:Living people

Category:English women's footballers

Category:Women's Super League players

Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players

Category:Aston Villa W.F.C. players

Category:Women's association football defenders

Category:Florida State Seminoles women's soccer players

Category:South Carolina Gamecocks women's soccer players

Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States

Category:Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States

Category:English expatriate women's footballers

Category:England women's under-21 international footballers

Category:Republic of Ireland women's international footballers

Category:People from Harpenden

Category:Footballers from Hertfordshire

Category:21st-century English sportswomen

Category:21st-century Irish sportswomen