Nigeria Players Abroad
Toni Payne joins Everton from Sevilla
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria international Toni Payne has joined English Women’s Super League (WSL) side, Everton FC.
The Former Ajax forward’s contract with Spanish Liga F side, Sevilla ended at the end of the 2023/2024 season, bringing to a close her incredible six-season spell.
The 29-year-old has 21 caps for the nine-time African champions and was part of the Super Falcons squad that competed at the 2023 FIFA World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, being narrowly beaten by England in the last 16.
Payne says her experience of playing against some of the best talent in the English top-flight only added to her desire to move to Merseyside.
“I’m impressed with how the league is investing in teams and the league itself,” she told the club website.
“I see such a rapid growth and it’s something that I’m really excited and eager to be a part of.”
During that World Cup campaign, Nigeria went up against the Republic of Ireland and competed against two of Payne’s new Blues teammates in Heather Payne and Courtney Brosnan.
Both have developed significantly in their time at Everton, and Payne says the opportunity to development further under the guidance of manager Sorensen is something that excites her.
Before joining Sevilla FC, Payne played for Dutch side, Ajax Amsterdam.
She became the second Nigerian player in recent time to play for a WSL side after Ashleigh Plumptre who featured for Leicester City FC before switch to Saudi side, Al-Ittihad.
