Anna Patten Explained

Anna Patten
Fullname:Anna Rose Patten
Birth Date:1999 4, df=yes[1]
Birth Place:Harpenden, England
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)
Currentclub:Aston Villa
Clubnumber:4
Position:Defender
Youthclubs1:Arsenal
Collegeyears1:2017–2018
College1:Florida State Seminoles[2]
Collegeyears2:2019–2020
College2:South Carolina Gamecocks[3]
Collegecaps1:41
Collegegoals1:4
Collegecaps2:32
Collegegoals2:4
Years1:2017
Clubs1:Arsenal
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2023
Clubs2:Arsenal
Caps2:11
Goals2:1
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Aston Villa (loan)
Caps3:26
Goals3:0
Years4:2023–
Clubs4:Aston Villa
Caps4:18
Goals4:1
Nationalyears1:2014
Nationalteam1:England U15
Nationalyears2:2015–2017
Nationalteam2:England U17
Nationalcaps2:14
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2017
Nationalteam3:England U19
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2017–2018
Nationalteam4:England U20
Nationalcaps4:8
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2019
Nationalteam5:England U21
Nationalcaps5:7
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2024–
Nationalteam6:Republic of Ireland
Nationalcaps6:3
Nationalgoals6:1
Club-Update:30 March 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:5 April 2024

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.

Early life

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

Florida State Seminoles

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

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

Arsenal

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)

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

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

International career

England

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

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 against France in a 3-1 victory in Cork

Career statistics

Club

[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal2017Women's Super League80000080
2020–21Women's Super League70000070
2021–22Women's Super League40000071111
2022–23Women's Super League0000000000
Total190000071261
Aston Villa (loan)2021–22Women's Super League70100080
2022–23Women's Super League1903031251
Aston Villa2023–24Women's Super League1811040231
Total4415071562
Career total631507171823

International

Honours

Florida State Seminoles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anna Patten: England profile. The Football Association . 8 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Anna Patten . Florida State University . 8 January 2021 . 26 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230326015558/https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/ . dead .
  3. Web site: Anna Patten – Women's Soccer – University of South Carolina Athletics . 24 June 2019 . University of South Carolina . 8 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Anna Patten. Florida State Seminols. 19 June 2021. 26 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326015558/https://seminoles.com/sports/soccer/roster/anna-patten/. dead.
  5. Web site: A'Don't be a melt.' These Brits guide South Carolina soccer with stellar play, lingo. The State. 21 November 2019 . 19 June 2021.
  6. Web site: Anna Patten. 24 June 2019 . Gamecocks onlineaccess-date=19 June 2021.
  7. Web site: Arsenal's Anna Patten on her American adventure, Gunners dream team and life after the WSL. The State. 10 February 2021. 19 June 2021.
  8. Web site: Anna Patten re-signs for Arsenal. Arsenal F.C. . 7 January 2021 . 8 January 2021.
  9. Web site: Arsenal bring back centre-back Anna Patten. 7 January 2021 . 19 June 2021.
  10. Web site: Anna Patten can reflect on successful campaign back at Arsenal. Islington Gazette. 26 May 2021 . 19 June 2021.
  11. Web site: Anna Patten joins Villa Women . 4 January 2022.
  12. Web site: 7 July 2022 . Anna Patten joins Aston Villa on loan . 11 July 2023 . Arsenal F.C. . en.
  13. Web site: 11 July 2023 . Anna Patten leaves club . 11 July 2023 . Arsenal F.C. . en.
  14. Web site: Anna Patten signs permanent deal with Villa Women! . Aston Villa Football Club . 11 July 2023.
  15. Web site: Anna Patten to represent Republic of Ireland. Aston Villa Football Club. 28 March 2024. 28 March 2024.
  16. Web site: France 1-0 Ireland WNT . Football Association of Ireland . 6 April 2024 . 5 April 2024.
  17. Web site: England - A. Patten - Profile with news, career statistics and history . Soccerway . 28 November 2023.