Antionette Oyedupe Payne (born 22 April 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish Liga F club Sevilla FC.[3] Born in the United States, she represents the Nigeria women's national team.

Toni Payne
Personal information
Full name Antionette Oyedupe Payne[1]
Date of birth (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, forward
Team information
Current team
Sevilla
Number 11
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Duke 90 (23)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2018 Ajax 22 (1)
2018– Sevilla 139 (24)
International career
2012 United States U17 6 (3)
2013–2014 United States U20
2016–2018 United States U23 1 (0)
2021– Nigeria 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2022.[2]
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 July 2023.[2]

Early life edit

Payne was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama to Nigerian parents.[4][5] She is the older sister of fellow footballers Stephen and Nicole Payne.

Club career edit

From 2016 to 2018, Payne played with AFC Ajax. In June 2018, she joined Sevilla on a one-year contract, which was extended for two further years in 2019.[3]

International career edit

Through birth and descent, Payne was eligible to play for the United States or Nigeria.

United States edit

Payne played for the United States under-17 team, and was in the team which won the 2012 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship.

Nigeria edit

In 2019, Payne declared her intention to switch her international career to Nigeria.[4][5] She made her senior debut on 18 February 2021 starting against Russian club CSKA Moscow at the Turkish Women's Cup.[6] Her first appearance facing other national team was two days later against Uzbekistan.[7]

On 16 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.[8]

References edit

  1. ^ "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 – List of Players: USA" (PDF). FIFA. 25 September 2012. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b Toni Payne at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Samuel Ahmadu, Sevilla hand Toni Payne contract extension until 2021, Goal, 18 June 2019. Accessed 16 May 2020.
  4. ^ a b Sevilla striker Toni Payne wants to dump USA and play for Super Falcons of Nigeria, 7 March 2019. Accessed 15 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b Samuel Ahmadu, American-born Toni Payne awaits Fifa's clearance, Goal, 5 April 2019. Accessed 16 May 2020.
  6. ^ Ahmadu, Samuel (18 February 2021). "Nigeria 1-0 CSKA Moscow: Ihezuo hands American born Payne and George winning debuts". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Nigeria 1 Uzbekistan 0 : Ayinde's Half-Volley Enough For Win ; Two American-born Players Debut". All Nigeria Soccer. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  8. ^ Ryan Dabbs (14 June 2023). "Nigeria Women's World Cup 2023 squad: most recent call ups". fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 20 June 2023.