Araya Dennis
{{short description|English footballer (born 2006)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Araya Dennis
| image = 20241006-Araya Dennis (cropped).jpg
| caption = Dennis with Tottenham Hotspur in 2024
| fullname = Araya Marilyn Roxanne Dennis{{Soccerway|araya-dennis/823692}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|1|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, England
| height =
| position = Forward, winger, defender
| currentclub = Southampton
(on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Arsenal
| years1 = 2022–2023
| clubs1 = Arsenal
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2023
| clubs2 = → Watford{{Cite web |title=Player Season Totals {{!}} Watford {{!}} The FA Women's National League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=527355185&teamID=655229961#tab-2 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The FA}} (dual reg)
| caps2 = 3
| goals2 = 1
| years3 = 2023–2024
| clubs3 = → Crystal Palace (dual reg)
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = Tottenham Hotspur
| caps4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = → Southampton (loan)
| caps5 = 0
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam1 = England U17
| nationalcaps1 = 10
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2023–
| nationalteam2 = England U19
| nationalcaps2 = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 3
| club-update = 17:42, 10 January 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 22:15, 3 December 2024 (UTC){{Flashscore|dennis-araya/rB0P9OMN}}
}}
Araya Marilyn Roxanne Dennis (born 11 January 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Championship club Southampton, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and as a defender for the England under-19s. A product of the Arsenal Academy, she previously played on loan for National League side Watford and Crystal palace in the Women's Championship.
Club career
=Arsenal and loan spells=
Dennis is a product of the Arsenal Academy having scored 4 goals in 18 appearances for the academy team.{{Cite web |title=Players Season Totals {{!}} Arsenal Women FC Academy {{!}} Professional Game Academy League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=828702513&teamID=220940824#tab-2 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=The FA}} She trained with the Arsenal first team prior to a two month spell with National League South side Watford, under dual registration for the 2022–23 season, where she featured in three games, scoring one goal.
On 2 September 2023, Dennis joined Women's Championship club Crystal Palace on dual registration for the 2023–24 season,{{Cite web |date=2023-09-02 |title=Araya Dennis joins Crystal Palace Women on dual-registration terms |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-women-araya-dennis-dual-registration/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Crystal Palace F.C. |language=en-GB |archive-date=22 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622103322/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-women-araya-dennis-dual-registration/ |url-status=live }} and scored on her debut with the club the next day in a 2–1 win against Birmingham City.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Arsenal women academy prospect scores in Crystal Palace debut! |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/arsenal-women-academy-prospect-scores-in-crystal-palace-debut-38162813 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=OneFootball |language=en}} In October, she was awarded the Women's Championship Goal of the Month, for her long-range effort from 35-yards out against Charlton Athletic.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-06 |title=Dennis wins Championship Goal of the Month for Charlton thunderbolt |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/araya-dennis-championship-goal-of-the-month-october-2023/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Crystal Palace F.C. |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724150718/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/araya-dennis-championship-goal-of-the-month-october-2023/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite AV media |url=https://x.com/BarclaysWC/status/1721573166601105454 |title=Absolute magic from Araya Dennis! |date=2023-11-06 |type=Video |publisher=Women's Championship |time=00:14 |quote=How about that! Araya Dennis levels on the stroke of half-time, from all of 35 yards. |via=X}}
= Tottenham Hotspur =
In February 2024, having played at the 2nd and 3rd levels of women's football in England, Dennis signed a two-year contract with Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur in the top tier.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Dennis joins the Club |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/february/spurs-women-dennis-joins-the-club/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |language=en |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009031053/https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/february/spurs-women-dennis-joins-the-club/ |url-status=live }}
On 2 October 2024, she made her senior debut for Tottenham in the opening group stage match of the 2024–25 League Cup against Charlton Athletic, coming on as a 67 minute substitute.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=Dennis on her debut: “It was a proud moment and a great experience” |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/october/spurs-women-dennis-on-her-debut-it-was-a-proud-moment-and-a-great-experience/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |language=en}} On 11 December, aged 18, Dennis scored her debut goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Crystal Palace in the final group stage match,{{Cite web |last=Mitton |first=Alex |date=2024-12-11 |title=Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham: Spurs secure place in League Cup quarter-finals |url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207353-crystal-palace-0-2-tottenham-spurs-secure-place-in-league-cup-quarter-finals.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=VAVEL |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213213924/https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207353-crystal-palace-0-2-tottenham-spurs-secure-place-in-league-cup-quarter-finals.html |url-status=live }} helping Tottenham to secure a place in the quarter-finals.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=🏆 Women's League Cup: Big wins for Liverpool, Leicester & Man Utd |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-league-cup-liverpool-rout-195900684.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Yahoo Sports |publisher=OneFootball |language=en-US |archive-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212031609/https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-league-cup-liverpool-rout-195900684.html |url-status=live }} Her performance was described as impressive by VAVEL and Spurs manager Robert Vilahamn.{{Cite web |last=Mitton |first=Alex |date=2024-12-11 |title=Robert Vilahamn glad Tottenham are “not Spursy” after League Cup progression |url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207373-robert-vilahamn-glad-tottenham-are-not-spursy-after-league-cup-progression.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=VAVEL |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213213911/https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207373-robert-vilahamn-glad-tottenham-are-not-spursy-after-league-cup-progression.html |url-status=live }}
== Southampton (loan) ==
On 10 January 2025, Dennis joined Women's Championship club Southampton on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 Women's Championship.{{Cite web |last=Rees-Julian |first=George |date=2025-01-10 |title='Get some minutes' - Saints sign Dennis on loan from Spurs for rest of season |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24849344.southampton-fc-women-sign-dennis-loan-tottenham/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}
International career
Dennis was part of the England under-17 team that played in the 2023 U17 Championship up until the semi-finals in May, where the youth team were defeated 3–1 by Spain.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-05-23 |title=Spain-England {{!}} Women's Under-17 2023 |url=https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037872--spain-vs-england/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=UEFA |language=en |archive-date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910105927/https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037872--spain-vs-england/ |url-status=live }}
On 20 September 2023, she scored her youth international debut goals for the England under-19s, with a brace in a friendly fixture against Denmark resulting in a 5–0 victory.{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2023-09-20 |title=England Women U-19s beat Denmark 5-0 aided by Araya Dennis’s double |url=https://shekicks.net/england-women-u-19s-beat-denmark-5-0-aided-by-araya-denniss-double/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=She Kicks |language=en-GB |archive-date=23 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623015409/https://shekicks.net/england-women-u-19s-beat-denmark-5-0-aided-by-araya-denniss-double/ |url-status=live }}
In July 2024, Dennis featured in the 2024 UEFA Under-19 Championship for the under-19s, providing an assist for the final goal against Lithuania as a 70th minute substitute.{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2024-07-14 |title=England Women’s U-19s net ten against Lithuania |url=https://shekicks.net/england-womens-u-19s-net-ten-against-lithuania/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=She Kicks |language=en-GB |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807083613/https://shekicks.net/england-womens-u-19s-net-ten-against-lithuania/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-14 |title=Dennis features in winning start for England in the Women’s Under-19 Euros |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/july/spurs-women-dennis-features-in-winning-start-for-england-in-the-women-s-under-19-euros/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en}}
For 2025 U19 Championship qualification in November and December 2024, she featured as a defender in all first round matches against Turkey,{{Cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nicholas |date=2024-11-27 |title=Report: England WU19s 2-1 Turkiye |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Nov/27/england-womens-under-19s-turkiye-match-report-20242711 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207063940/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Nov/27/england-womens-under-19s-turkiye-match-report-20242711 |url-status=live }} Italy,{{Cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nicholas |date=2024-11-30 |title=Report: England WU19s 1-0 Italy |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Nov/30/england-womens-under-19s-italy-match-report-20243011 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=England Football |language=en}} and Poland.{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Holly |date=2024-12-03 |title=Report: England WU19s 0-1 Poland |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Dec/03/wu19s-poland-match-report-20240312 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213120440/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Dec/03/wu19s-poland-match-report-20240312 |url-status=live }}
Style of play
Dennis is a winger who contributes across the pitch. At the age of 17 she was described by Imeptus Football as a young talent who "displays an intelligence of the game way beyond her young age"; with the ability to easily escape tight spaces, draw opposition, and run channels.{{Cite web |last=McCowen |first=Beth |last2=Simons |first2=Liberty |date=2023-12-29 |title=A look at the prospects for Araya Dennis |url=https://impetusfootball.org/2023/12/29/a-look-at-the-prospects-for-araya-dennis/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Imeptus Football |language=en}}
Crystal Palace described the forward as a fast-paced and "attack-minded right-sided player". For England at youth level, she has covered at left-back from the right-wing position,{{Cite web |last=Jamet |first=Sylvain |date=2023-05-15 |title=Arsenal youngster scores 2 as England beat Poland in u17 Euro opener |url=https://dailycannon.com/2023/05/england-u-17-poland/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Daily Cannon |language=en-US}} and played as a defender in the number 2 position.
Honours
{{External media |title=External video |float= |width=250 |video1=[https://x.com/BarclaysWC/status/1721573166601105454 Women's Championship October 2023 Goal of the Month], from Women's Championship via X, 6 November 2023}}
Crystal Palace
- Women's Championship: 2023–24{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Araya Dennis: "I’m looking forward to growing as a player" |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/june/spurs-women-araya-dennis-i-m-looking-forward-to-growing-as-a-player/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |language=en |archive-date=4 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704115737/https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/june/spurs-women-araya-dennis-i-m-looking-forward-to-growing-as-a-player/ |url-status=live }}
Individual
- Women's Championship Goal of the Month: October 2023{{Cite web |date=2023-11-06 |title=Dennis wins Championship Goal of the Month for Charlton thunderbolt |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/araya-dennis-championship-goal-of-the-month-october-2023/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Crystal Palace F.C. |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724150718/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/araya-dennis-championship-goal-of-the-month-october-2023/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/teams/women/players/araya-dennis/ Araya Dennis] at Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
- {{Soccerway|araya-dennis/823692}}
- {{Flashscore|dennis-araya/rB0P9OMN}}
{{Southampton F.C. Women squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennis, Araya}}
Category:Footballers from London
Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players
Category:Watford F.C. Women players
Category:FA Women's National League players
Category:Crystal Palace F.C. (Women) players
Category:Women's Championship (England) players
Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women players
Category:Women's Super League players
Category:Southampton F.C. Women players
Category:English women's footballers
Category:England women's youth international footballers