Jessica Naz Explained

Jessica Naz
Fullname:Jessica Naz
Birth Date:2000 9, df=yes
Birth Place:London, England
Height:1.65 m
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Tottenham Hotspur
Clubnumber:7
Youthclubs1:Tottenham Hotspur
Youthclubs2:Arsenal
Years1:2017–2018
Clubs1:Arsenal
Caps1:2
Goals1:0
Years2:2018–
Clubs2:Tottenham Hotspur
Caps2:88
Goals2:12
Nationalyears1:2016–2017
Nationalteam1:England U17
Nationalcaps1:6
Nationalgoals1:4
Nationalyears2:2017–2019
Nationalteam2:England U19
Nationalcaps2:14
Nationalgoals2:10
Nationalyears3:2021–2024
Nationalteam3:England U23
Nationalcaps3:10
Nationalgoals3:2
Nationalyears4:2024–
Nationalteam4:England
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:01:45, 24 November 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:55, 3 December 2024 (UTC)

Jessica Naz (born 24 September 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team. She previously represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-23 youth levels.

Club career

Naz came up through the Tottenham Hotspur academy,[1] but made her senior debut for Arsenal on 23 February 2018, coming on as a substitute for Heather O'Reilly for the last three minutes of Arsenal's 1–0 win over Everton in the 2017–18 season.[2]

Naz rejoined Tottenham later in 2018 and helped Tottenham achieve promotion to the Women's Super League, although she missed the 2019–20 season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.[1] She returned from injury in December 2020, and in February 2021, signed a contract extension through June 2022 with an option for an additional year.[1]

In December 2021, Tottenham manager Rehanne Skinner elaborated that she believes Naz could become a more dangerous presence, who is "more than capable of scoring goals on a regular basis".[3]

In March 2022, Naz was named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards,[4] beating team mate Esther Morgan in the process.[5] On 30 October 2022, as a substitute in the 2022–23 WSL season, she scored two goals in a humiliating 8–0 defeat for Brighton & Hove Albion.[6]

In February 2023, Naz extended her contract with Tottenham for two and a half years.[7]

On 21 January 2024, as part of the 2023–24 WSL season, and as a substitute, Naz scored a dramatic winning goal in a 4–3 victory over West Ham.[8] [9]

International career

Youth

Naz has represented England at multiple youth levels, from under-17 up to under-23.[10]

On 1 October 2018, with the under-19 squad in 2019 Under-19 Championship qualification, Naz scored a hat trick in a 9–0 victory against Malta in the opening match of the group stage.[11] In April 2019, she scored a further two goals against Sweden and one against Italy in the elite round, helping the England squad to reach the final tournament, with the team winning all their games in the qualification rounds.[12] [13] On 16 July, Naz scored a late goal against Germany in a 2–1 defeat in the 2019 Under-19 Championship group stage, where England finished in third place in Group B.[14]

In November 2021, Naz was named in the under-23 team,[15] featuring in a 9–0 win against Estonia on 30 November.[16] In February 2022 she was named in the U23 squad for two fixtures against France.[17] In September 2023, Naz featured in matches against Norway and Belgium,[18] [19] as part of the squad for the new U23 European League during the 2023–24 campaign.[20]

In October 2023, Naz was again named in the England squad for the U23 European League.[21] On 18 October, as a substitute, she scored the opening goal in a 2–0 win against Portugal with her first touches of the ball.[22] [23] On 30 November, Naz featured in a match against Spain as a 90th minute substitute,[24] and on 4 December against France as part of the starting eleven.[25]

Senior

Naz received her first senior call-up on 14 May 2024 for the four UEFA Euro 2025 qualification matches played that summer.[26] She was initially only named as a standby player, but was promoted to the full squad following the withdrawal of Lauren James through injury.[27] She made her senior debut on 12 July, coming on as a 71st minute substitute in a 2–1 win against the Republic of Ireland.[28] [29]

Career statistics

Club

[30]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2017–18Women's Super League20000020
Tottenham Hotspur2018–19Women's Championship1741150235
2019–20Women's Super League00000000
2020–21Women's Super League1002100121
2021–22Women's Super League1621040212
2022–23Women's Super League1520010162
2023–24Women's Super League2235153327
2024–25Women's Super League810021102
Total88129317411419
Career total90129317411619

International

[30]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
England202450
Total50

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Bunting . Josh . Spurs boosted as Jessica Naz signs new deal . 19 May 2021 . Hampstead Highgate Express . 26 February 2021.
  2. News: Arsenal Women 1–0 Everton Ladies. BBC Sport . 23 February 2018. 24 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Sportsbeat . 19 December 2021 . Skinner explains what Spurs need to do to get the most out of Jessica Naz . 2 February 2024 . Football London . en.
  4. Web site: Jess recognised at London Football Awards . 2 February 2024 . Tottenham Hotspur . en.
  5. Web site: Kilpatrick . Dan . 7 February 2022 . Rice, Jorginho, Ramsdale up for honours at London Football Awards . 2 February 2024 . Evening Standard . en.
  6. News: 30 October 2022 . Tottenham put eight past sorry Brighton . 2 February 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  7. Web site: Feringa . Megan . 3 February 2023 . Jessica Naz signs contract extension with Spurs in boost for Rehanne Skinner . 2 February 2024 . Football London . en.
  8. Web site: 21 January 2024 . Jessica Naz guides Tottenham to victory in seven-goal thriller at West Ham LiveScore . 2 February 2024 . www.livescore.com . en.
  9. News: 21 January 2024 . WSL: Tottenham hold on to beat West Ham in seven-goal thriller - reaction . 2 February 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  10. Web site: Jessica Naz - Flashscore.co.uk . 2 February 2024 . www.flashscore.co.uk . en-GB.
  11. Web site: 1 October 2018 . England-Malta Women's Under-19 2019 . 2 February 2024 . UEFA . en.
  12. Web site: 6 April 2019 . England-Sweden Women's Under-19 2019 . 2 February 2024 . UEFA . en.
  13. Web site: 9 April 2019 . Italy-England Women's Under-19 2019 . 2 February 2024 . UEFA . en.
  14. Web site: 16 July 2019 . England-Germany Women's Under-19 2019 . 2 February 2024 . UEFA . en.
  15. Web site: Davies . Callum . 17 November 2021 . England WU23s and Development Phase squads named . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  16. Web site: Smith . Frank . 30 November 2021 . Match report: England WU23s 11-0 Estonia . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  17. Web site: Davies . Callum . 9 February 2022 . Young Lionesses set for action . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  18. Web site: Veevers . Nicholas . 2 September 2022 . Norway 1-2 England WU23s . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  19. Web site: Smith . Frank . 25 September 2023 . Report: England WU23s 3-0 Belgium . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  20. Web site: Veevers . Nicholas . 6 July 2023 . England WU23s' new season schedule revealed . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  21. Web site: McHugh . Beth . 18 October 2023 . England WU23s squad named for Italy and Portugal games . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  22. Web site: McHugh . Beth . 30 October 2023 . Report: England WU23s 2-0 Portugal . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  23. Web site: Frith . Wilf . 31 October 2023 . Naz and Skeels score as England Women’s U-23s beat Portugal - SheKicks . 2 February 2024 . shekicks.net . en-GB.
  24. Web site: McHugh . Beth . 4 December 2023 . England WU23s unbeaten throughout 2023 following Spain draw . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  25. Web site: McHugh . Beth . 30 November 2023 . Report: France 0-1 England WU23s . 2 February 2024 . England Football . en.
  26. Web site: England women's senior squad named for summer games . www.englandfootball.com . 14 May 2024.
  27. Web site: England squad update: Earps withdraws with Thomas called up . www.englandfootball.com . 2 June 2024.
  28. Web site: Emma . Sanders . England 2-1 Republic of Ireland: Lionesses close in on Euro 2025 spot . BBC Sport . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  29. News: Blair . Oliver . Edwards . Luke . Tomas . Fiona . 12 July 2024 . England's laboured victory puts them one point from automatic qualification for Euros . 23 October 2024 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235.
  30. Web site: England - J. Naz - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. 29 January 2021. uk.soccerway.com.