Manchester City and England striker Ellen White has confirmed her retirement from football with immediate effect.
White, 33, won the European Championships with England last month and the final will serve as the pinnacle of a trophy laden career that started 17 years ago.
She finishes as England’s all-time women’s record goalscorer after starting in Arsenal’s youth team before leaving for senior football with Chelsea, Leeds United (when they were known as Leeds Carnegie), before she returned to Arsenal where she lifted seven trophies in three years – securing two WSL titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups.
She went on to Notts County and Birmingham City before making the switch to the City Football Academy in 2019.
In three seasons at City White made 90 appearances, scoring 34 times and becoming only the second player to rack up 50 Women’s Super League goals before going on to become the league’s then all time top goalscorer in February 2021.
She also lifted her third Women’s FA Cup medal in November 2020 before captaining the team to a Continental Tyres Cup against Chelsea in March 2022.
Internationally, White had already represented England at various youth levels before being handed her senior debut against Austria in March 2010, scoring in the final minute in a 3-0 win.
She went on to represent her homeland at ten major tournaments including three World Cups and three European Championships, earning 113 caps and scoring 52 goals along the way – making her England’s all-time record women’s goalscorer and second overall to Wayne Rooney.
She also figured for the Lionesses in the Cyprus Cup (2013), SheBelieves Cup (2019 and 2020) and Arnold Clark Cup (2022), plus two Olympic Games with Team GB, reaching the quarter final stage in 2012 and 2021.
Following her UEFA Women’s Euro heroics with the Lionesses this summer however, White has taken the decision to retire from the game with immediate effect.
Head Coach Gareth Taylor paid tribute to White, saying: “Ellen is without doubt an icon of the game, and although her career is now at its end, her efforts have paved the way for so many to flourish in the future.
“She has given so much over the years to the game that she adores, and she leaves it in the strongest place it has ever been, which is testament to her hard work and sacrifices.
“She has been the definition of the consummate professional and I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her over the past two seasons – her name will be written into the history books as an icon of women’s football.
“Whatever her next steps are, on behalf of everyone here at Manchester City, I’d like to express our immense gratitude to her and wish her all the very best for the future.”
Managing Director Gavin Makel echoed Taylor’s sentiments, adding: “Players like Ellen are incredibly special and rare – what she has done for the game during her career, both on and off the pitch, is truly remarkable.
“The phrase ‘legend’ is thrown around freely nowadays, but Ellen is someone who truly deserves that title – she has given so much over the years to help grow and develop women’s football.
“I have no doubt she will continue making her mark in many other ways as she embarks on this new chapter of her life and career, and she’ll always have the support of her City family, wherever that takes her.”