Who is Grace Clinton? ‘Courageous’ midfielder brings fresh edge to
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Manchester United midfielder comes to her first major tournament figured out to continue the trajectory that has seen her take every difficulty in her stride to emerge as an essential figure in Sarina Wiegman’s strategies. England team-mate and midfield partner Keira Walsh spoke about that quality when they were sat together at the team’s pre-Euros media day at St George’s Park.
“You are fearless, “Walsh stated, as Clinton smiled to her right.”I do not understand whether you observe that when you’re playing, however I believe no matter who you’re betting you don’t shy away from it, and I think for somebody with such a young age that’s a terrific quality to have.” open image in gallery
Grace Clinton is among seven England players heading to their first significant tournament at Euro 2025 (The FA by means of Getty Images)
Clinton made her England debut in February 2024 as the Lionesses swept Austria aside 7-2. Clinton scored, and it wasn’t just her remarkable start that made Wiegman take notice. The Liverpool-born midfielder was likewise enjoying a development season while on loan at Tottenham Hotspur, playing with an authority that looked beyond her years in a group that reached the FA Cup last that season. The issue was, Clinton could not bet her moms and dad club and Tottenham looked lost without her, beaten before losing 4-0 to United at Wembley.
It was the second of 2 loan spells that helped Clinton find her feet within the Women’s Super League. It suggested her long awaited launching for United came in 2024, two years on from her arrival from Everton. Clinton, who grew up near Liverpool’s Melwood training ground, spent much of her childhood playing youth football against young boys before signing for Everton when she was 12.
After ending up being a regular at United, Clinton likewise enjoyed a run of games for England. An injury for Georgia Stanway unlocked for Clinton to begin along with Walsh in midfield, dropping much deeper from the No 10 position that she had previously occupied to end up being more of a box-to-box No 8.
The learning curve was steep: in the opening game of England’s Nations League campaign in Portugal, Clinton turned off for a minute and lost the run of Kika Nazareth, who curled a stunning long-range strike into the leading corner to protect a 1-1 draw for the hosts.
However, a few days later on, Clinton began once again and held her own against Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey as England defeated world champs Spain 1-0 at Wembley. With a few more starts under her belt, Clinton has actually a guaranteed look playing in England’s midfield – even if Stanway is now back from injury and might begin ahead of her.
Clinton had actually skipped the chance to shoot despite being in a good position. “Me and Alex [Greenwood] were like, ‘You have a great shot, just take the next one’,” Mead explains. “It’s truly in her head and we’re like: ‘It’s OK. Simply try not to overthink it’.”
Wiegman is counting on players like Clinton to inject that sense of bravery and adventure into England’s competition defence. She is also versatile, efficient in playing across the midfield and even from the left wing. A player who grows on finding pockets of area and playing on the half-turn, Clinton has the dynamism to turn and rise away as well.
(Getty Images)
That has actually come through work, though, with her coach at Manchester United, Marc Skinner, highlighting the effort Clinton has left the ball given that establishing herself at Old Trafford. “I constantly understood she had the quality but I wanted to see that energy and that commitment,” Skinner said towards completion last season. “The way she has worked reveals an enormous improvement, which will be huge for England.”
Now at the Euros, Clinton has all the pieces along with Wiegman’s trust: now it has to do with thinking she can put them together on the greatest phase.