Before England won the Euros in 2022, even leading female players were paid as little as £20,000 a year. Now they earn handsome sums – and more from commercial giants desperate to be associated with their game.
Captain Leah Williamson, 28, has modelled for Calvin Klein, is a brand ambassador for Gucci, enjoys a lucrative deal with Nike and has collaborated with global brands including Aston Martin, Pepsi, Walkers and Mastercard. She even has a range of children’s books called The Wonder Team.
Ella Toone, 25, has set up her own brand, ET7, which includes a football academy for young girls, and she has set up a creative agency to help female athletes maximise commercial opportunities. Her sponsors include make-up brand Charlotte Tilbury, orthodontic firm Invisalign and McDonald’s. She and best friend Alessia Russo have a podcast.
Russo is now on £500,000 a year just for playing football – but off-the-field deals are understood to bring in much more. Forbes put her earnings in just 2023 at £2 million. She has deals with Gucci, Adidas, PlayStation, Beats by Doctor Dre, and last month was gifted an MG5 EV car.
Forward Lauren Hemp, 24, has boosted her £400,000 salary with a sponsorship deal with Lego. Playing with the plastic bricks helps her relax. She has even made a Mona Lisa out of Lego. Her other sponsors include Nike and Sports Direct.
Inspired by art
The Lionesses are finding some inspiration for self-expression from the high-end art on display at their five-star hill-top hotel team base, the Dolder Grand.
There’s a sculpture of a woman reclining in a champagne flute outside their meeting room. And there is what seems to be a vagrant lying asleep in reception. It’s a sculpture ‘Traveller’ by the American hyper-
realist Duane Hanson. The Dolder was the location for the film version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
The new star
Michelle Agyemang, 19, did it again in England’s dramatic semi-final win against Italy, climbing from the bench to spark a stunning late comeback, just as she had done against Sweden in the quarter-finals.
All this a few months after first being called up – and scoring within 41 SECONDS – and just four years after she was a Lionesses’ ball girl at Wembley. She was brought up on gospel and loves her piano.
So much so, in fact, she had it brought over in a van. ‘It’s calm and relaxing,’ she explained.
In the stands
Among partners, family and friends cheering on the Lionesses tonight will be former Miss USA Elle Smith. She is close friends with captain Leah Williamson.
The pair spent a week together in Majorca before the tournament soaking up the sun.
Ms Smith, 27, posted a snap celebrating Arsenal’s Champions League victory with Williamson’s winner’s medal around her neck.
And Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema has stayed in Switzerland to support her partner Beth Mead.
The pair – who have been in a relationship since 2022 – faced off in the group stages of the tournament.
The Lionesses beat the Netherlands 4-0 to kick-start their campaign, but there’s clearly no hard feelings from Ms Miedema.
Trendsetting tape
Last time round, the hair fixation was on ponytails: every player seemed to have one. Now, the focus is on a £2.40 roll of pre-wrap, the physio’s best friend.
The tape, which protects cuts, has been re-purposed as a headband. Chloe Kelly, shirtless goal hero in Euro 2022, favoured blue in the semi-final victory over Italy. Lucy Bronze opts for white.
Forward Lauren Hemp, meanwhile, has been unmasked as the squad’s resident hairdresser, taking up physiotherapist scissors to give teammate Esme Morgan a trim.
Ms Hemp said central defender Morgan ‘didn’t want to pay for a hairdresser and I think she’s seen a talent in me that I’d not recognised.’
Arise Dame Sarina!
Victory tonight and it won’t just be garlands and accolades for the players. Manager Sarina Wiegman – the 55-year-old Dutchwoman who has transformed the Lionesses since taking over four years ago – may get a damehood.
And what about us?
Sir Keir Starmer was pretty vocal in demanding a Bank Holiday when the Lionesses won in 2022.
This time? The killjoys in Downing Street have said there are ‘no plans’ in giving the nation a day off to celebrate.
