Toni Payne
.jpg) | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antionette Oyèdúpẹ́ Payne[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 22 April 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | ||
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||
| Positions | |||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Inter Milan | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Duke Blue Devils | 90 | (23) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017–2018 | Ajax | 22 | (0) |
| 2018–2024 | Sevilla | 168 | (30) |
| 2024–2026 | Everton | 41 | (1) |
| 2026– | Inter Milan | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | United States U17 | 6 | (3) |
| 2013–2014 | United States U20 | ||
| 2016–2018 | United States U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2021– | Nigeria | 48 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14:49, 19 May 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 00:40, 8 June 2026 (UTC)[2] | |||
Antionette Oyedupe "Toni" Payne OON (Yoruba: [òjédupɛ́]; born 22 April 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie A club Inter Milan. Born in the United States, she represents Nigeria at international level.
Early life
[edit]Payne was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama to Nigerian parents.[3][4] She is the older sister of fellow footballers Stephen and Nicole Payne. She and her sister Nicole have played together in the Nigeria national team.[5]
Club career
[edit]In 2017, Ajax invited Payne for an internship, which led to her signing for the club.[6] She made her league debut against ADO Den Haag on 19 May 2017.[7] Payne scored her first league goal against PSV on 27 May 2018, scoring in the 16th minute.[8]
On 4 July 2018, Payne was announced at Sevilla.[9] She made her league debut against Albacete on 9 September 2018.[10] Payne scored her first league goal against Rayo Vallecano on 16 September 2018, scoring in the 89th minute.[11] On 18 June 2019, it was announced that her contract was extended for two further years.[12]
On 19 July 2024, Payne was announced at Everton.[13] On 7 December 2025, Payne assisted the goal for Honoka Hayashi to beat Chelsea 1–0, ending the longest unbeaten streak in Super League history of 34 matches.[14] On 26 June 2026, it was announced that she would leave Everton when her contract expired.[15]
On 12 July 2026, it was announced that Payne had signed a two-year contract with Serie A club Inter Milan until 30 June 2028.[16]
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 U-17 Championship.
Nigeria
[edit]In 2019, Payne declared her intention to switch her international career to Nigeria.[3][4] She made her senior debut on 18 February 2021 starting against Russian club CSKA Moscow at the Turkish Cup.[17] Her first appearance facing a national team was two days later against Uzbekistan.[18]
Payne was called up to the Nigeria squad for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.[19]
On 16 June 2023, she was included in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA World Cup 2023.[20]
Payne was called up to the Nigeria squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[21]
On 20 June 2025, Payne was named in the final Nigeria squad for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.[22]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 16 May 2026[23]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental[c] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ajax | 2016–17 | Vrouwen Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Vrouwen Eredivisie | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | |
| Total | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| Sevilla | 2018–19 | Liga F | 27 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 7 | ||
| 2019–20 | Liga F | 21 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 4 | |||
| 2020–21 | Liga F | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 5 | |||
| 2021–22 | Liga F | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 5 | |||
| 2022–23 | Liga F | 28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 3 | |||
| 2023–24 | Liga F | 30 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 6 | |||
| Total | 168 | 30 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 30 | ||
| Everton | 2024–25 | Women's Super League | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 26 | 1 | |
| 2025–26 | Women's Super League | 19 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 24 | 2 | ||
| Total | 41 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 231 | 31 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 253 | 34 | ||
- ↑ Includes KNVB Women's Cup, Copa de la Reina, Women's FA Cup
- ↑ Includes Women's League Cup
- ↑ Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
International
[edit]- As of match played 26 July 2025
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 2021 | 7 | 1 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 48 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Payne goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 February 2021 | Mtskheta Park, Manavgat, Turkey |  Equatorial Guinea |
7–0 | 9–0 | 2021 Turkish Women's Cup |
| 2 | 5 June 2026 | Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Nigeria |  Senegal |
2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
Honours
[edit]Nigeria
Orders
Officer of the Order of the Niger
References
[edit]- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Toni Payne at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- 1 2 Sevilla striker Toni Payne wants to dump USA and play for Super Falcons of Nigeria, 7 March 2019. Accessed 15 May 2020.
- 1 2 Samuel Ahmadu, American-born Toni Payne awaits Fifa's clearance, Goal, 5 April 2019. Accessed 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "Match Report of Jamaica vs Nigeria – 2021-06-10 – FIFA Friendlies – Women". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ↑ "Drie nieuwe aanwinsten voor Ajax Vrouwen". www.parool.nl (in Dutch).
- ↑ "Ajax vs ADO Den Haag - 19 May 2017". int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ "Ajax vs PSV - 27 May 2018". int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ "TONI PAYNE, DINAMITA NORTEAMERICANA PARA EL ATAQUE DEL SEVILLA FC". sevillafc.es (in Spanish).
- ↑ "Sevilla vs Albacete - 9 September 2018". int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ "Rayo Vallecano vs Sevilla - 16 September 2018". int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ Samuel Ahmadu, Sevilla hand Toni Payne contract extension until 2021, Goal, 18 June 2019. Accessed 16 May 2020.
- ↑ "Everton Sign Payne". www.evertonfc.com.
- ↑ "Chelsea 0-1 Everton: Chelsea suffer first defeat since May 2024". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Six Players To Leave Everton". www.evertonfc.com.
- ↑ "Antionette Payne signs for Inter". www.inter.it. 12 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ Ahmadu, Samuel (18 February 2021). "Nigeria 1-0 CSKA Moscow: Ihezuo hands American born Payne and George winning debuts". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ↑ "Nigeria 1 Uzbekistan 0 : Ayinde's Half-Volley Enough For Win ; Two American-born Players Debut". All Nigeria Soccer. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ↑ "Morocco 2022: Waldrum picks Ebi, Oshoala, Plumptre, 22 others for Women AFCON". Nigeria Football Federation. 25 June 2022.
- ↑ Ryan Dabbs (14 June 2023). "Nigeria Women's World Cup 2023 squad: most recent call ups". fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ↑ "Paris 2024 Olympics: Waldrum picks Ajibade, Nnadozie, Oshoala, 15 others". thenff.com. Nigeria Football Federation. 3 July 2024.
- ↑ Oyebola, Mike (20 June 2025). "Super Falcons: Madugu unveils final squad for WAFCON 2024". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "Toni Payne Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ↑ "Nigeria produce stunning comeback to beat Morocco and win 10th WAFCON title". CAF. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
External links
[edit]- Toni Payne at Soccerway.com
- Toni Payne at WorldFootball.net
- Toni Payne at FBref.com
- Toni Payne at Kicker (in German)
- Toni Payne at Olympedia
Nigeria squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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- 1995 births
- Living people
- Nigerian women's footballers
- 21st-century Nigerian sportswomen
- Women's association football forwards
- AFC Ajax (women) players
- Sevilla FC (women) players
- Everton F.C. Women players
- Inter Milan (women) players
- Vrouwen Eredivisie players
- Liga F players
- Women's Super League players
- Serie A (women's football) players
- United States women's youth international soccer players
- Nigeria women's international footballers
- Nigerian expatriate women's footballers
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- Expatriate women's footballers in the Netherlands
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Expatriate women's footballers in Spain
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Expatriate women's footballers in England
- Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- Expatriate women's footballers in Italy
- Soccer players from Birmingham, Alabama
- American women's soccer players
- Duke Blue Devils women's soccer players
- FC Kansas City draft picks
- African-American soccer players
- American people of Nigerian descent
- Sportspeople of Nigerian descent
- American expatriate women's soccer players
- American expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- American expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- American expatriate sportspeople in England
- American expatriate sportspeople in Italy
- 21st-century American sportswomen
- 21st-century African-American sportswomen
- 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players
- United States women's under-20 international soccer players
- Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- Olympic footballers for Nigeria
- 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations players
- 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations players