FLYING THE FLAG! Everton star Toni Payne produdly represents Super Falcons as only Nigerian in Barclays WSL

Everton Women and the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) have jointly celebrated Nigerian midfielder Toni Payne as the sole Nigerian player currently competing in the prestigious English league.

Just 11 months after leaving Sevilla in Spain, the 29-year-old versatile midfielder joined Everton Women, becoming Brian Sorensen’s first summer signing. 

Payne’s move marked a significant step in her career, transitioning from a six-year spell in Spain to England’s top-flight women’s football.

Payne, who boasts 21 caps for Nigeria, was part of the Super Falcons squad that competed at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Nigeria narrowly exited in the round of 16 after a close defeat to England.

Both Everton Women and the Barclays WSL took to X (formerly Twitter) to honour Payne’s unique status in the league. 

The WSL tweeted, “Flying the flag proudly… @EvertonWomen’s Toni Payne is currently the only @NGSuper_Falcons player in the #BarclaysWSL!” Everton Women added, “Flying the flag for Naija.”

Recently, Payne also played a key role in the Super Falcons’ 2-0 friendly win over Cameroon, starting the match against the Lionesses, with Rasheedat Ajibade scoring a commanding brace. 

This victory is part of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Toni Payne’s presence in the WSL not only highlights her individual talent but also serves as a proud representation of Nigerian football on one of the world’s biggest stages for women’s soccer.