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.

Anna Patten
Patten with Arsenal in 2017
Personal information
Full name Anna Rose Patten
Date of birth (1999-04-20) 20 April 1999 (age 25)[1]
Place of birth Harpenden, England[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Aston Villa
Number 4
Youth career
Arsenal
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Florida State Seminoles[3] 41 (4)
2019–2020 South Carolina Gamecocks[2] 32 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Arsenal 8 (0)
2021–2023 Arsenal 11 (1)
2022–2023Aston Villa (loan) 26 (0)
2023– Aston Villa 30 (2)
International career
2014 England U15
2015–2017 England U17 14 (3)
2017 England U19 6 (0)
2017–2018 England U20 8 (1)
2019 England U21 7 (0)
2024– Republic of Ireland 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 November 2024

Early life

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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

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Florida State Seminoles

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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.[4]

South Carolina Gamecocks

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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.[5] The pair helped the Gamecocks post 15 shutouts in their first 21 matches of the 2019 season.[5] 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.[6]

She graduated with a degree in sociology.[7]

Club career

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Arsenal

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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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

Aston Villa (loan)

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It was announced on 4 January 2022 that Patten had joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[11] She returned on loan for the full 2022–23 season.[12]

Aston Villa

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On 11 July 2023, Patten completed a permanent transfer to Aston Villa.[13][14]

International career

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England

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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.[4] 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

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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.[15] She made her debut for the team during a 1–0 defeat against France on 5 April 2024.[16] She scored her first goal for Ireland in a 3–1 victory against France on 16 July.[17]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 17 November 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental[c] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Arsenal 2017 Women's Super League 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2020–21 Women's Super League 7 0 0 0 0 0 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
Total 19 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 26 1
Aston Villa (loan) 2021–22 Women's Super League 7 0 1 0 0 0 8 0
2022–23 Women's Super League 19 0 3 0 3 1 25 1
Aston Villa 2023–24 Women's Super League 22 1 1 0 4 0 27 1
2024–25 Women's Super League 8 1 0 0 1 0 9 1
Total 56 2 5 0 8 1 69 3
Career total 75 2 5 0 8 1 7 1 95 4

International

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As of match played 29 October 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2024 8 1
Total 8 1
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Patten goal.
List of international goals scored by Anna Patten
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 16 July 2024 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Republic of Ireland   France 3–1 3–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification

Honours

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Florida State Seminoles

References

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  1. ^ a b "Anna Patten: England profile". The Football Association. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Anna Patten – Women's Soccer – University of South Carolina Athletics". University of South Carolina. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Anna Patten". Florida State University. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Anna Patten". Florida State Seminols. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "A'Don't be a melt.' These Brits guide South Carolina soccer with stellar play, lingo". The State. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Anna Patten". Gamecocks onlineaccess-date=19 June 2021. 24 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Arsenal's Anna Patten on her American adventure, Gunners dream team and life after the WSL". The State. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Anna Patten re-signs for Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Arsenal bring back centre-back Anna Patten". 7 January 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Anna Patten can reflect on successful campaign back at Arsenal". Islington Gazette. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Anna Patten joins Villa Women". 4 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Anna Patten joins Aston Villa on loan". Arsenal F.C. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Anna Patten leaves club". Arsenal F.C. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  14. ^ "Anna Patten signs permanent deal with Villa Women!". Aston Villa Football Club. 11 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Anna Patten to represent Republic of Ireland". Aston Villa Football Club. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  16. ^ "France 1-0 Ireland WNT". Football Association of Ireland. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Republic of Ireland vs France: UEFA Women's Championship Qualification". BBC Sport. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b "England - A. Patten - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
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