| Claire Hutton | |
| Full Name: | Claire Catherine Hutton[1] |
| Birth Date: | 11 January 2006 |
| Height: | 5 ft 6 in[2] |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Kansas City Current |
| Clubnumber: | 14 |
| Years1: | 2024– |
| Clubs1: | Kansas City Current |
| Caps1: | 23 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | United States U-17 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 6 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2023 |
| Nationalteam2: | United States U-19 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 2 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2024 |
| Nationalteam3: | United States U-20 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | November 13, 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | July 16, 2024 |
Claire Catherine Hutton (born January 11, 2006) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She signed with the Current at the age of 17 in 2023. She has represented the United States from the under-17 to under-20 level, winning bronze at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
Hutton grew up in Bethlehem, New York, the daughter of Jennifer and Brett Hutton, and has two brothers. She joined the Bethlehem High School varsity girls' soccer team as a seventh grader in 2018, helping the team reach the state final and earning all-state honors at age 12. The next year, she scored a school-record 36 goals and added 19 assists as an eighth grader in 2019, leading the team to defend its Section 2 title and being named the New York state player of the year at age 13. She played less for her school the following two seasons, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and her club and national team duties, and posted twelve goals and nine assists in eight appearances.[3] Hutton joined the Bethlehem varsity boys' team as a junior in 2022, starting at forward and contributing four goals and one assist in 14 games.[4] [5] She played at club level for the Albany Alleycats and World Class FC, earning ECNL All-American honors in 2022 and 2023.[6]
After graduating one year early from high school in June 2023, Hutton trained with NWSL teams North Carolina Courage and NJ/NY Gotham FC. The New Jersey club raised the idea of her turning professional instead of playing in college.[7] She considered her options for several months and eventually trained out with the Kansas City Current, which signed her to a three-year deal under the NWSL's Under-18 Entry Mechanism on December 14, 2023.[7] [8] She had previously committed to the University of North Carolina; she instead began taking online classes at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.[9] [10]
Hutton debuted in the starting lineup of the opening matchday against the Portland Thorns on March 18, 2024.[11] She started all but one game in the first half of the season and ranked second in the NWSL in tackles won in that period. She made her first assist in a 1–0 win at the Utah Royals on May 25.[12] She scored her first professional goal on August 1, shooting from the edge of the box in a 4–1 win against Tigres in the Summer Cup group stage.[13] Hutton played the fourth-most minutes for the Current (despite being away for a month at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup) as the team finished the regular season in fourth place.[10] [14] She was one of three players nominated for NWSL Rookie of the Year.[15]
Hutton first represented the United States with the national under-17 team at the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship, scoring six goals as the team won the tournament.[8] She captained the under-19 team at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile, where they played against other countries' senior teams. She scored two goals at the tournament, including in a 2–0 win over Argentina in the bronze-medal match.[16] [7] She was consistently part of the under-20 team the following year at age 18. She started five of seven games to help the United States place third at 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, its best result since 2012.[17]
A defensive midfielder, Hutton possesses excellent vision, physical defensive ability, technical skill, and creativity.[18] [19] She has cited Sergio Busquets, Andrés Iniesta, and Kevin De Bruyne as inspirations, though her favorite player as a child was Ronaldinho.[18]
Kansas City Current
United States U17
United States U19
United States U20