Katie Zelem

Katie Zelem was born in Failsworth, England, on January 20, 1996. She began her football career at a young age, joining the Manchester United Girls’ Centre of Excellence at eight. Despite starting her youth career at United, she moved to Liverpool in 2013 due to the lack of a professional setup at Manchester United at the time. With Liverpool, she quickly made an impact, earning Liverpoool’s Young Player of the Year in 2014 and contributing to two FA Women’s Super League (WSL) titles in 2013 and 2014. Her early career also saw her represent England at various youth levels, from U-15 through U-23, demonstrating her consistent talent and potential.

Her career path saw her move to Italian side Juventus in 2017, where she spent one season. During her time in Italy, Zelem contributed to Juventus winning the Serie A title in the club’s inaugural season (2017–2018). In 2018, she returned to Manchester United for their inaugural season, where she played a pivotal role in leading the team from the Championship to the Women’s Super League. She became club captain in 2019 and achieved significant milestones, including winning the FA Women’s Championship in 2018–2019 and the Women’s FA Cup in her final season with the club in 2023–2024. Her time at Manchester United also saw her become the third-highest goal scorer and make the second-most appearances for the club.

Zelem’s international career progressed, earning her first call-up to the senior England team in 2021. She made two appearances in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where England finished as runners-up. She also contributed to England’s Arnold Clark Cup victories in 2022 and 2023. In August 2024, Zelem signed with Angel City FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) via free agency, and in August 2025, she transferred to London City Lionesses. Throughout her career, Zelem has demonstrated adaptability and leadership, evolving from a winger to a central midfielder, and consistently delivering strong performances.