In December 2023, Grace Clinton told The Athletic that one of her New Year’s resolutions was to make her England debut.
The 22-year-old achieved that goal in February 2024, starting and scoring in a 7-2 friendly win against Austria.
Sixteen months on from her debut, Clinton could be a very influential figure in England’s midfield at this summer’s Euros.
Grace by name, graceful by nature, she glides when in possession, opening up her stride as she advances up the pitch. She is very tidy on the ball and can turn out of trouble well in tight spaces.
A versatile midfielder, Clinton can play as a No 8 or No 10 and has even played as a false nine at youth level. She plays a similar position for club as she does for country. Her finishing technique is crisp and clean, while her line-breaking passes are well-timed and weighted. She registered the most through balls (eight) in the WSL during 2024-25.
Having progressed through the ranks at Everton’s academy, she signed for Manchester United in 2022 before being sent out on loan to Championship side Bristol City in January 2023. The youngster wanted game time in 2023-24 and got it during her season-long loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur, where she flourished.
After returning to United, Clinton became an established member of the first team, starting 19 out of 21 games and scoring eight goals.
For England, she has often filled the gap left by stalwart Georgia Stanway, who has been injured since the end of January. Stanway will be Clinton’s biggest competition in the No 8 role, while club team-mate Ella Toone, Jess Park and Lauren James are all vying for a place as the starting No 10.
“Grace wants to be a hybrid between a No 8 and a No 10, in terms of the quality of a No 10 but the engine of a No 8,” said United head coach Marc Skinner in May.
By engine, Skinner meant the energy needed to run box to box, track runners into her team’s defensive penalty area, and break into attacking areas. Clinton’s quality is evident, but Skinner wanted to see her “energy” and “commitment”, which she showed in United’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City on the penultimate day of the season.
In December, Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman called for consistency from the Liverpudlian, especially defensively, to stay “switched on at all times” and understand the “bigger picture, not only her own task”.
The key now is whether Clinton can regularly repeat her high-level performances in a major tournament.
Charlotte Harpur
