Michelle Agyemang
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Michelle Agyemang
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2006|02|03}}
| birth_place = England
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Brighton & Hove Albion
(on loan from Arsenal)
| clubnumber = 59
| height =
| youthyears1 = 2013–2023
| youthclubs1 = Arsenal
| years1 = 2022–
| clubs1 = Arsenal
| caps1 = 4
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2023–2024
| clubs2 = → Watford (dual reg)
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2024–
| clubs3 = → Brighton & Hove Albion
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2022
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalcaps2 = 12
| nationalgoals2 = 10
| nationalyears3 = 2023–
| nationalteam3 = England U19
| nationalcaps3 = 9
| nationalgoals3 = 8
| nationalyears4 = 2024–
| nationalteam4 = England U23
| nationalcaps4 = 2
| nationalgoals4 = 3
| nationalyears5 = 2025–
| nationalteam5 = England
| nationalcaps5 = 1
| nationalgoals5 = 1
| club-update = 19 April 2025
| nationalteam-update = 8 April 2025
}}
Michelle Agyemang ({{IPA|ak| a.d͡ʒɛ.maŋ|lang}}; born 3 February 2006) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion on loan from Arsenal. She has represented England at senior, under-23, under-19 and under-17 levels.
Early life
Agyemang was born in England and is of Ghanaian descent.https://ghanasoccernet.com/she-is-unreal-former-arsenal-defender-heaps-praise-on-michelle-agyemang?amp=1
Her father is a Manchester United fan, her brother is a Chelsea fan, her sister is a West Ham United fan and she is an Arsenal fan. Growing up her favourite players were Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott.https://www.goal.com/en-au/lists/michelle-agyemang-the-rise-of-arsenal-s-latest-academy-star-set-to-become-the-lionesses-no-9-of-the-future/bltd308bfb6c2b76585#cs2c2adb59a6032680
Youth career
Agyemang is a life-long Gooner.{{cite news |date=15 May 2023 |title=Michelle Agyemang: Who is the Arsenal and England wonderkid? |url=https://www.givemesport.com/who-is-young-england-and-arsenal-star-michelle-agyemang/ |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=GiveMeSport |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520105548/https://www.givemesport.com/who-is-young-england-and-arsenal-star-michelle-agyemang/ |url-status=live }} She joined Arsenal at the age of six.{{cite news |url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/academy-trio-commit-future-arsenal|title=Academy trio commit future to Arsenal|website=Arsenal.com|date=23 June 2023|access-date=23 June 2023}} She appeared in eleven games for the Arsenal academy team during the 2022–2023 season and was their top goal scorer across all competitions.{{Cite web |title=Stat leaders {{!}} FA WSL Academy League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statLeaders.html?itemsPerPage=25&selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort=918531606&teamID=&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=4&sortAsc=false&selectedSeason=765203761&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=601121171 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=fulltime.thefa.com |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520105550/https://fulltime.thefa.com/statLeaders.html?itemsPerPage=25&selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort=918531606&teamID=&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=4&sortAsc=false&selectedSeason=765203761&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0&selectedDivision=601121171 |url-status=live }} She finished the season as second in number of goals scored and top in number of goals per game in all competitions at U21 academy level.{{Cite web |title=Stat leaders {{!}} FA WSL Academy League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/statLeaders.html?itemsPerPage=25&selectedDivision=601121171&selectedOrgStatRecordingTypeID_ForSort=631338298&teamID=&selectedStatisticDisplayMode=1&selectedSeason=765203761&selectedFixtureGroupAgeGroup=0 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=fulltime.thefa.com}}
Club career
=Arsenal=
In November 2022, Agyemang made her senior club debut at the age of sixteen against Leicester City in Arsenal's 4–0 victory in the Women's Super League.{{Cite web|date=7 November 2022|title=Debutant Agyemang delighted to see dream come true|url=https://www.arsenal.com/news/debutant-agyemang-delighted-see-dream-come-true|access-date=20 May 2023|website=Arsenal.com|language=en|archive-date=20 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520105551/https://www.arsenal.com/news/debutant-agyemang-delighted-see-dream-come-true|url-status=live}} On 29 January 2022, Agyemang's scored her first goal for the club in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup against Leeds United in the 80th minute.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-29 |title=Report: Arsenal 9–0 Leeds United Women |url=https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/women/2023-Jan-29/women-9-0-leeds-united-women-match-report |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Arsenal.com |language=en |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131171931/https://www.arsenal.com/fixture/women/2023-Jan-29/women-9-0-leeds-united-women-match-report |url-status=live }} The goal was nominated for Arsenal's Goal of the Month for January 2023 and came second.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-14 |title=Teenage sensation Michelle Agyemang finishes second in Arsenal's Goal of the Month poll |url=https://www.givemesport.com/arsenal-michelle-agyemang-finishes-higher-than-martin-odegaard-in-fan-vote/ |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en |archive-date=20 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520105548/https://www.givemesport.com/arsenal-michelle-agyemang-finishes-higher-than-martin-odegaard-in-fan-vote/ |url-status=live }}
On 1 May 2023, Agyemang made her first appearance in a European competition coming on as a substitute during extra time of their Champions League semi-final defeat to VfL Wolfsburg.{{Cite web|date=1 May 2023|title=Women's Champions League: Arsenal concede in extra time to lose semi-final|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/65366900|access-date=4 August 2023|website=BBC Sport|language=en|archive-date=1 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801103837/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/65366900|url-status=live}}
On 23 June 2023, it was announced by the club that Agyemang had committed to signing a professional contract with the club when she turns eighteen.
== Watford (dual registration) ==
In August 2023, Agyemang joined Watford F.C. in the Women's Championship on a dual-sign agreement,{{Cite web |title=Women: Agyemang, Reid & Harbert Join On Dual-Sign Agreements |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/women-agyemang-reid-harbert-join-on-dual-sign-agreements |access-date=2023-09-03 |website=www.watfordfc.com |language=en |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810184845/https://www.watfordfc.com/news/women-agyemang-reid-harbert-join-on-dual-sign-agreements |url-status=live }} making her debut for Watford on 3 September against London City Lionesses.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} She would then miss the first half of the 2023–24 season through injury.{{Cite web |last=French |first=Andrew |date=2024-02-04 |title=Superb second consecutive win shows Watford Women can escape the drop |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/24096642.back-to-back-victories-move-watford-women-off-foot-table/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Watford Observer |language=en |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209062130/https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/24096642.back-to-back-victories-move-watford-women-off-foot-table/ |url-status=live }}
On 4 February 2024, Agyemang scored her first goals for the club, a brace against Birmingham City,{{Cite web |title=Live Commentary - Watford FC Women vs Birmingham Women {{!}} 04.02.2024 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-fc-women-vs-birmingham-city-women/live/494531 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}} helping the team off the bottom of the Championship with a 2–0 win.
==Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)==
On 13 September 2024, Agyemang signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on loan for the 2024–25 season.{{cite web|title=Michelle Agyemang joins Albion on loan from Arsenal|url=https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/media-article/wft-transfer-news-michelle-agyemang-joins-albion-on-loan-from-arsenal-september-2024|website=www.brightonandhovealbion.com|date=13 September 2024|access-date=18 December 2024|archive-date=13 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913122636/https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/pages/en/media-article/wft-transfer-news-michelle-agyemang-joins-albion-on-loan-from-arsenal-september-2024|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=13 September 2024 |title=Brighton sign Agyemang on loan from Arsenal as Lee departs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70j0g9vq9qo |access-date=18 September 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918171330/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c70j0g9vq9qo |url-status=live }}
International career
=Youth=
In May 2023 Agyemang was named in the England under-17 squad for the 2023 U-17 Championship.{{Cite news|last=Veevers|first=Nicholas|date=11 May 2023|title=England WU17s squad set for EURO|work=EnglandFootball.com|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/May/11/england-womens-u17s-squad-named-for-uefa-u17-euro-finals-in-estonia-20231105|access-date=19 June 2023|archive-date=9 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609205842/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/May/11/england-womens-u17s-squad-named-for-uefa-u17-euro-finals-in-estonia-20231105|url-status=live}} In the tournament she scored a brace against Poland for a 2–1 win,{{Cite web |last= |date=May 14, 2023 |title=England-Poland {{!}} Women's Under-17 2023 |url=https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037863--england-vs-poland/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=UEFA |language=en |archive-date=21 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240721013321/https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037863--england-vs-poland/ |url-status=live }} giving the team their first goal of the competition within three minutes.{{Cite news |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Michelle Agyemang scores England opener against Poland |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/65588797 |access-date=2024-02-09 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527011447/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/65588797 |url-status=live }} She followed up by scoring another two goals against Sweden in a 3–1 victory,{{Cite web |last= |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Sweden-England {{!}} Women's Under-17 2023 |url=https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037866--sweden-vs-england/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=UEFA |language=en |archive-date=22 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622225219/https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037866--sweden-vs-england/ |url-status=live }} as well as started in the semi-final defeat against Spain.{{Cite web|date=23 May 2023|title=Women's U17 European Championship: Spain score twice late on to beat England 3–1|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65690232|access-date=4 August 2023|website=BBC Sport|language=en|archive-date=1 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801103838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65690232|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last= |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Spain-England {{!}} Women's Under-17 2023 |url=https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037872--spain-vs-england/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |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 }} In November 2023 she was named as part of the under-19 squad for the Algarve Cup,{{Cite web |last=McHugh |first=Beth |date=November 22, 2023 |title=England WU19s squad for the Algarve Cup |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Nov/22/england-womens-under-19s-squad-announcement-20231122 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225051737/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Nov/22/england-womens-under-19s-squad-announcement-20231122 |url-status=live }} scoring two goals against the Netherlands on 4 December in a 3–3 draw.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Frank |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Report: Netherlands 3-3 England WU19s |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Dec/04/england-womens-under-19s-netherlands-match-report-20231204 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204190933/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2023/Dec/04/england-womens-under-19s-netherlands-match-report-20231204 |url-status=live }}
On 14 July in the 2024 Under-19 Championship, Agyemang scored a hat-trick in England's opening group stage match in a 10–0 victory over Lithuania.{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=Thomas |date=2024-07-14 |title=Report: Lithuania 0-10 England WU19s |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Jul/14/england-womens-under-19s-euros-lithuania-match-report-20241407 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=England Football |language=en}} In October 2024 Agyemang was called up to the England under-23 squad for European League fixtures.{{Cite web |last=McHugh |first=Beth |date=2024-10-16 |title=England WU23 squad named for October games |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Oct/16/england-womens-under-23-squad-named-for-october-games-with-netherlands-portugal-20241610 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=England Football |language=en}}
Agyemang scored her first brace for the England under-23s during a 3–2 loss against Germany on 20 February 2025.{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=Thomas |date=20 February 2025 |title=Report: England WU23s 2-3 Germany |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2025/Feb/20/england-womens-under-23s-germany-report-live-20252002 |access-date=21 February 2025 |website=England Football}}
=Senior=
On 6 April 2025, Agyemang was called up to the England senior squad for the first time, replacing the injured Alessia Russo.{{Cite news |date=2025-04-06 |title=Agyemang replaces Russo for first England call-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8rg5m8nn46o |access-date=2025-04-06 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250406151420/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8rg5m8nn46o |url-status=live }} Two days later, on 8 April, she made her senior debut as an 80th minute substitute during England's UEFA Nations League match against Belgium. Just 41 seconds after her introduction, Agyemang scored her first senior international goal in a 3–2 defeat for England.{{cite web |last1=Sanders |first1=Emma |title=England suffer humbling defeat by Belgium after poor display |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cql65rrn619t |website=BBC Sport |access-date=8 April 2025 |date=8 April 2025 |archive-date=9 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409095413/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cql65rrn619t |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last=Veevers|first=Nicholas|date=8 April 2025|title=Michelle Agyemang speaks of her pride after debut goal|work=EnglandFootball.com|url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2025/Apr/08/michelle-agyemang-england-belgium-reaction-20250804|access-date=9 April 2025|archive-date=9 April 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250409100331/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2025/Apr/08/michelle-agyemang-england-belgium-reaction-20250804|url-status=live}} Following her debut, Agyemang was awarded legacy number 234 by the football association.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=England women's senior team legacy and results archive |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/Legacy?tab=Players |access-date=2025-03-28 |website=England Football |language=en}}
Career statistics
{{updated|19 April 2025}}{{Cite web|title=Michelle Agyemang fotmob profile|url=https://www.fotmob.com/players/1414896/michelle-agyemang|access-date=19 June 2023|website=FotMob|language=en|archive-date=20 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620170241/https://www.fotmob.com/players/1414896/michelle-agyemang|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=FA WSL academy league Player Stats|url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/index.html?league=174683699&selectedFixtureGroupKey=1_344185842|access-date=19 June 2023|website=The Football Association|language=en}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|FA Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Europe{{efn|Includes the UEFA Women's Champions League}} !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan=3|Arsenal Academy
|2021–22 |rowspan=2|FA WSL Academy League |2 | 3 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 2022–23
|9 | 15 | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | colspan=2|— | 9 | 15 | ||||
| colspan=2|Total
!11||18||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||11||18 | ||||||||||
| rowspan=3|Arsenal
|rowspan=2|WSL |3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| |2023–24
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!4||0||1||1||0||0||1||0||6||1 | ||||||||||
| Watford (loan)
|9 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 10 | 5 | ||
| Brighton & Hove Albion (loan)
|WSL |15 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | colspan=2|— | 20 | 4 | ||
| colspan=3|Career total
!39||24||4||3||3||1||1||0||47||28 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
{{updated|match played 8 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England
|2025 | 1 | 1 | |
| colspan="2" |Total | 1 | 1 |
:Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Agyemang goal.
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Michelle Agyemang |
| scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition !scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| align=center|1
| 8 April 2025 | {{fbw|BEL}} | align=center| 2–3 | align=center| 2–3 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|michelle-agyemang/823695|Michelle Agyemang}}
- {{Flashscore|agyemang-michelle/Ee2V9sSe|Michelle Agyemang}}
- [https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/women/players/michelle-agyemang Michelle Agyemang] at Watford F.C. website ({{webarchive| url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029152104/https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/women/players/michelle-agyemang |date=29 October 2023 |url-status=dead}})
{{Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agyemang, Michelle}}
Category:English women's footballers
Category:English people of Ghanaian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Ghanaian descent
Category:Women's association football forwards
Category:Black British sportswomen
Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players
Category:Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. players
Category:Women's Super League players
Category:England women's youth international footballers