Alessia Mia Teresa Russo (born 8 February 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United in the Women’s Super League and the England national team.
She has previously played for Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and North Carolina Tar Heels, and has represented England at all age groups.
Early Life and Career
Born in Maidstone, England on February 8, 1999.
After playing for Bearsted Girls U10 as a child, Russo began her career at Charlton Athletic’s centre of excellence, before joining and captaining Chelsea’s development squad. Her first and only senior appearance with Chelsea came during the first round of the FA WSL Continental Cup on 2 July 2016.
In January 2017, Russo joined newly promoted WSL 2 side Brighton & Hove Albion ahead of the 2017 FA WSL Spring Series. She made her Brighton debut on 5 February 2017 in an FA Cup third round victory against AFC Wimbledon. On 11 February, Russo scored Brighton’s first ever goal at WSL level in the team’s Spring Series opener, a 1–1 draw with London Bees.
In autumn 2017, Russo moved to the United States to play college soccer, joining ACC team North Carolina Tar Heels. As a freshman she appeared in 19 games, making 18 starts. She finished as the leading scorer on the team with 9 goals as well as 2 assists and earned several accolades including co-ACC Freshman of the Year, ACC All-Freshman Team selection and United Soccer Coaches All-East Region first team selection. In 2018, despite missing the postseason with a broken leg, Russo earned a United Soccer Coaches first-team All-America selection, the first Tar Heel to make the first team since Crystal Dunn in 2013, and was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year. In August 2020, Russo announced she was forgoing her final year of college eligibility amid uncertainty around the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 10 September 2020, Russo signed a two-year contract with the option for a third year with Manchester United, the club she grew up supporting. She made her debut three days later as a half-time substitute in a 5–2 league victory over Birmingham City, registering an assist. She scored her first goal for the club in the following game, starting in a 3–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Russo was nominated for WSL Player of the Month in October 2020 with three goals and one assist in three appearances. However, she was sidelined in November after a hamstring injury suffered in training required surgery.
In the 2021–22 season, Russo led the team in goals with 11 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions and was named the inaugural winner of the team’s Players’ Player of the Year award.
International Career
Russo has represented England on the under-15, under-17 and under-19, under-20 and under-21 national teams. In October 2015, she scored five goals against Croatia during a 13–0 2016 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship qualification win before scoring a hat-trick against Estonia in the following game. Russo finished joint top-scorer in qualifying with 9 goals and then again at 2016 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship, scoring 5 goals including a brace against Germany in a 4–3 semi-final defeat as England finished third. She competed at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan and was part of the squad that finished third at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
On 26 February 2020, Russo was called up to the senior England national team for the first time as part of the 2020 SheBelieves Cup squad, initially as a training player but was later added as an injury replacement for Lucy Bronze. She made her senior international debut on 11 March 2020 in the final game of the tournament, appearing as a 76th minute substitute for Toni Duggan in a 1–0 defeat to Spain. On 30 November 2021, she scored her first international goals, a hat-trick in a national record 20–0 victory over Latvia during 2023 World Cup qualifying. Timed at 11 minutes, the hat-trick was the fastest by any England player in history. In June 2022, Russo was included in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad for UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
Parents and Family
Born in Maidstone, Kent, Russo is of Italian descent. Her Sicilian grandfather moved to England in the 1950s. Her father, Mario, played non-league football for Metropolitan Police and brother, Giorgio, has also played non-league football for multiple teams, most recently for Ramsgate. Her brother, Luca, went to the University of Missouri on a track and field scholarship.
In 2006, Russo was a mascot for her future United manager Casey Stoney, who was captain of Charlton Athletic while Russo was at the London club’s Centre of Excellence.
Boyfriend/ Husband
Alessia Russo is currently single and not in an open relationship for now. Alessia Russo is also not married.
Net Worth
Alessia Russo’s net worth as of 2022 is estimated at around $2.5 million – $10 million.
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