Eleanor Dale

Eleanor Dale

Personal information
Date of birth	(2002-02-09) 9 February 2002 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth	Billingham, Durham, England
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Sunderland
Number	9
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2023	Nebraska Cornhuskers	65	(44)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2020	Middlesbrough	29	(16)
2020	Durham	3	(1)
2024	Everton	6	(0)
2024–	Sunderland	11	(7)
International career^‡
2019	England U17	7	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:29, 30 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:12, 5 May 2019 (UTC)

Eleanor Dale (born 9 February 2002) is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Women's Championship club Sunderland. Dale previously played for Everton, Durham, and Middlesbrough.

Early life

Dale is from Billingham, Durham and attended the local Northfield School.[3][4]

Club career

Dale made her debut for Middlesbrough in the Northern Premier League on 25 February 2018, as a substitute in a 4–1 win against Derby County.[5] She scored her first goal for the club on 11 March, in a 4–1 win against Nottingham Forest.[6]

Dale began her senior career at Women's Championship club Durham, signing for the club on January 4, 2020.[7] She scoring her debut goal for Durham against Blackburn Rovers on 2 February.[8][9]

Dale played four seasons of college soccer for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the United States. In her senior year in 2023, she led the country with 28 goals, helping Nebraska win the Big Ten Conference regular season title, and was recognized as first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten, and the Big Ten Forward of the Year.[10][11]

On 1 February 2024 Dale signed for Women's Super League club Everton.[12] She made six appearances for club during the 2023–24 season.[13]

On 4 July 2024, she then signed for Sunderland, to return to playing in the Women's Championship.[14][15]

On 11 January 2025, she scored four goals in the 7–1 win over National League side Exeter City in the 2024–25 FA Cup fourth round.[16]

International career

Dale has represented England internationally at under-17 and under-18 youth level.[1][7] Dale made her debut for the under-23 team in a 0–0 draw against Spain on 16 February 2023.[17] She was described as "one of England’s rising stars, having... made her home country’s U23 team".[18]

Honours

Individual

• NCAA Division I First-Team All-America: 2023
• Big Ten Conference Forward of the Year: 2023

References

1. Eleanor Dale at Soccerway
2. "Eleanor Dale Stats, Height, Age & Profile". elitefootball.com. Retrieved 15 January 2025.
3. Lewis, Eden (16 February 2023). "Talented Teesside footballer Eleanor gets call up to England squad". Teesside Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
4. "England to Nebraska: Eleanor Dale's journey to Lincoln". .nebraskanewsservice.net. 25 October 2021.
5. "Middlesbrough 4–1 Derby County". The Football Association. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
6. "Middlesbrough 4–1 Nottingham Forest". The Football Association. 11 March 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
7. "SIGNING: England Youth International Joins!". Durham W.F.C. 4 January 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
8. "REPORT: Blackburn 0-2 Durham Women". Durham W.F.C. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
9. "Blackburn 0-2 Durham". The FA. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
10. "Eleanor Dale". Nebraska Cornhuskers. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
11. "'It's finally clicking': Nebraska soccer's Eleanor Dale shines in senior season". klkntv.com. 30 October 2023.
12. Sanders, Emma (30 January 2024). "Eleanor Dale: Everton sign England youth international". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
13. Henry, Kaleb (6 July 2024). "Nebraska Soccer's Eleanor Dale Signs with Sunderland AFC". All Huskers. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
14. "Eleanor Dale joins Sunderland". Sunderland AFC. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
15. Smith, Phil (5 July 2024). "Mel Reay reacts as Sunderland's plans for new campaign take big step forward with two key announcements". Southampton Echo. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
16. "Exeter City vs Sunderland: Women's FA Cup stats & head-to-head". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
17. Smith, Frank (16 February 2023). "England WU23s take on Spain". England Football. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
18. "Eleanor Dale's meteoric rise helping Nebraska soccer regain its footing". omaha.com. 15 September 2023.

External links

• Eleanor Dale at Sunderland A.F.C.
• Eleanor Dale at Soccerway.com