Jessica Sigsworth
Jessica Lucy Sigsworth (born 13 October 1994) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for FA WSL club Manchester United. She previously played for Notts County and Doncaster Rovers Belles, and has represented England at numerous youth levels.
![]() Sigsworth playing for Manchester United, February 2019 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Jessica Lucy Sigsworth[1] | ||
Date of birth | 13 October 1994 | ||
Place of birth | Doncaster, England[2] | ||
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Manchester United | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
Branton Boys | |||
Doncaster Rovers Belles | |||
2008–2011 | Sheffield United Academy | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2015 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 44 | (7) |
2015 | Notts County | 0 | (0) |
2016–2018 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | 25 | (17) |
2018– | Manchester United | 39 | (20) |
National team‡ | |||
2011 | England U17 | 3 | (1) |
2011–2013 | England U19 | 18 | (3) |
2014 | England U20 | 3 | (0) |
England U23 | 5 | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 February 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 4 June 2016 |
Sigsworth won the Golden Boot award for most goals scored during the 2017–18 FA WSL 2 season and the 2018–19 FA Women's Championship.
Early life
Sigsworth, aged seven, started her youth career playing for Branton Boys.[3] Her twin brother played for Branton and the coach asked her if she wanted to play.[3] After playing for Doncaster Rovers Belles Juniors, she moved to Sheffield United Girls’ Centre of Excellence, where she broke into the England under-17 squad. After three seasons, she returned to Doncaster Belles.[4]
As a youth, Sigsworth was a fan of Manchester United and dreamed of playing for the club.[5]
Club career
Doncaster Rovers Belles, 2011–15

Sigsworth began her senior career by signing with Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2011.[4] She made her senior debut on 23 July 2011 in a 3–0 defeat against Birmingham City.[6] In four years, she scored seven goals in 41 appearances.
Notts County, 2015
In January 2015, Sigsworth moved to FA WSL outfit Notts County.[7] Though she was named in a matchday squad twice, she never made an appearance.[8]
Return to Doncaster Rovers Belles, 2016–18
In November 2015, Sigsworth re-signed with hometown team Doncaster Rovers Belles ahead of the 2016 season.[9] On 20 March 2016, she scored her first goal, in her first appearance since returning to the club in a 4–1 defeat against Chelsea in the FA Women's Cup.[10] In May 2016, she signed a full-time contract.[2] In August, she suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury, missing the rest of the season, as the team were relegated to FA WSL 2, as well as the subsequent Spring Series.[11][12] In the 2017–18 season, Sigsworth won the FA WSL 2 Player of the Month award for March.[13] Sigsworth guided Doncaster to the FA WSL 2 title and won the golden boot with 15 goals.[14][15]
Manchester United, 2018–
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In July 2018, Sigsworth was announced as part of the inaugural Manchester United squad that was set to compete in the newly restructured FA Women's Championship.[16] She made her competitive debut for Manchester United in a 1–0 League Cup victory against Liverpool on 19 August.[17] On the opening day of the 2018–19 Championship season, Sigsworth scored five goals in a 12–0 win away to Aston Villa.[18] On 9 March 2019, during a 2–0 FA WSL Cup win against West Ham, Sigsworth was involved in an incident with Brooke Hendrix; three days later, Hendrix was charged with violent conduct by the FA and banned for three games.[19] Sigsworth finished the season with consecutive Championship titles and golden boot awards, having scored 17 league goals.[20][21]
Sigsworth scored her first goal of the 2019–20 season in United's 2–0 League Cup win against Manchester City on 20 October 2019.[22] During a match against Reading on 27 October, her "cool, calm and collected" goal in the 85th minute secured the team's 2–0 win.[23][8] She finished the regular season with two goals in 14 matches.[8] Manchester United finished in fourth place with a 7–5–2 record.[24]
Ahead of the 2020–21 season, Sigsworth signed a new one-year contract with an option for a further year.[25] Of the signing, she said, "I love this club; as a kid growing up supporting United it was always a dream to be a part of its history."[26]
International career
Sigsworth has represented England at under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-23 levels.[27]
In April 2011, Sigsworth scored for the under-17s in a 1–0 win against Sweden in the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship second qualifying round.[28] In August 2013, Sigsworth was part of the England under-19 team who finished as runners-up to France at the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Wales.[29] In July 2014, Sigsworth was named as part of the England under-20 squad for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[30] Sigsworth started all three games as England failed to progress, having finished third in Group C.[31]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | FA Cup[lower-alpha 1] | League Cup[lower-alpha 2] | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Doncaster Belles | 2011 | WSL 1 | 6 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
2012 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1 | ||
2013 | 10 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 13 | 2 | |||
2014 | WSL 2 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 8 | |
Total | 44 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 60 | 11 | ||
Notts County | 2015 | WSL 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Doncaster Belles | 2016 | WSL 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
2017 | WSL 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2017–18 | 18 | 16 | — | 3 | 2 | 21 | 18 | |||
Total | 25 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 20 | ||
Manchester United | 2018–19 | Championship | 19 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 28 | 18 |
2019–20 | WSL | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 4 | |
2020-21 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
Total | 39 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 56 | 23 | ||
Career total | 108 | 44 | 9 | 2 | 29 | 8 | 146 | 54 |
- Includes the Women's FA Cup
- Includes the WSL Cup/Women's League Cup
Honours
Doncaster Rovers Belles
Manchester United
Individual
See also
References
- "List of Players - England" (PDF). FIFA. 4 August 2014. p. 5. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
- "Doncaster Belles: Sigsworth gunning for Arsenal after signing full-time deal". South Yorkshire Times. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
The Doncaster-born forward has signed a new deal with the Belles after completing her studies at Sheffield Hallam University.
- "Manchester United forward Jess Sigsworth 'always on the up'". The Mind Map.
- "A parent's role – Dad aids daughters rise up football ladder – Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA". Sheffield & Hallamshire CFA. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "JESS SIGSWORTH SIGNS NEW CONTRACT". Manchester United. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "FA WSL: Birmingham Ladies 3 Doncaster Rovers Belles 0". sportsister.com. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "Doncaster Belles: Jess Sigsworth signs for Notts County Ladies". Doncaster Free Press. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "Jessica Sigsworth". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "Jess Sigsworth: Doncaster Rovers Belles re-sign Notts County striker". BBC. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "Women's FA Cup: Holders Chelsea beat Doncaster to reach quarter-final". BBC Sport. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "Doncaster Rovers Belles: Step to Women's Super League 1 'bigger than expected'". BBC Sport. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- "Doncaster Belles: Jess Sigsworth determined to repay Belles' faith". Doncaster Free Press. 11 July 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- "White and Sigsworth named players of the month". fawsl.com. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "Brilliant Belles celebrate title win with three points". FAWSL.com. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- "CELEBRATION TIME AT 20TH ANNUAL FA WOMEN'S FOOTBALL AWARDS". thefa.com. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- "Manchester United include England stars in unveiled women's squad". 13 July 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- Drudge, Harriet (19 August 2018). "MATCH REPORT: LIVERPOOL WOMEN 0 UNITED WOMEN 1". ManUtd.com. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- "MATCH REPORT: ASTON VILLA 0 UNITED WOMEN 12". www.manutd.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- "Brooke Hendrix: West Ham Women defender banned after stamp". BBC Sport. 12 January 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "Man Utd Women 7-0 Crystal Palace Ladies: Women's Championship title sealed by win". BBC Sport. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- Bonsu, Benny (18 May 2019). "The winners from the 21st annual FA Women's Football Awards". givemesport.com. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- "Women's Continental League Cup: Manchester United 2–0 Manchester City". BBC Sport. 20 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- "'Cool, calm, collected!' Sigsworth seals win for Man Utd over Reading". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "Women's Super League: 2019-20". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "Sigsworth signs new Man Utd Women's contract". www.manutd.com. 24 June 2020.
- "Jess Sigsworth: Manchester United Women forward signs new one-year deal". BBC Sport. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
- "Jessica Sigsworth". Doncaster Rovers Belles. Archived from the original on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
- "Women's Under-17 2011 - England-Sweden". uefa.com. UEFA. 11 April 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "Women's Under-19 - England-France". UEFA. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
- Lavery, Glenn (1 July 2014). "Mo Marley names England squad for Women's U20 World Cup". thefa.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 – Group C". FIFA. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
- "Jessica Sigsworth player profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- "Appearances, goals and cards for Sigsworth". Football-Lineups. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
Further reading
- Aluko, Eniola (2019), They Don't Teach This, Random House, ISBN 9781473564480
- Caudwell, Jayne (2013), Women's Football in the UK: Continuing with Gender Analyses, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9781317966234
- Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jessica Sigsworth. |
- Profile at the Manchester United F.C. website
- Profile at the Football Association website
- Jessica Sigsworth – FIFA competition record
- Jessica Sigsworth – UEFA competition record
- Jessica Sigsworth at Soccerway
- Jessica Sigsworth on Twitter