Asmita Ale (Nepali: अस्मिता आले, born 3 November 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Leicester City.

During the 2023/24 season, Ale was the only footballer from Britain's South Asian community - male or female - to play top-division football in England.[1]

Career

The daughter of a former Gurkha soldier, she joined Aston Villa at the age of eight.[2] She received her first professional contract after turning 18 in late 2019, becoming the first footballer of Nepalese origin to sign with a Premier League side.[3] On 26 May 2021, Ale won the Aston Villa Women's Players' Player of the 2020/21 Season award.[4] On 7 June 2024, Ale left Tottenham after her contract expired.[5]

On 6 August 2021, Ale signed for Tottenham Hotspur on a contract until 2023.[6] She is seen as one of the upcoming young talents in the Women's Super League.[7] Ale made 17 appearances in all competitions for Tottenham during the 2022/23 season and kept clean sheets against Italy and Belgium.[8]

On 24 January 2024, Ale signed for Leicester on a loan until the end of the 2023/24 season.[9]

On 17 July 2024, Ale signed for Leicester permanently, signing a three year contract.[10]

International career

Asmita Ale is eligible to represent two countries, England (where she was born) and Nepal (through her parents).

On 17 November 2021, Ale was called up to the England U23s for a match against Estonia.[11]

On 2 November 2022, Ale was called up to the England U23s for matches against Netherlands and Italy.[12]

On 29 November 2023, Ale was called up to the England U23s for matches against France and Spain.[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024[14]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 2017–18 Women's Super League 2 3 0 ? ? 0 0 3 0
2018–19 Championship 17 2 ? ? 2 0 19 2
2019–20 Championship 12 0 1 0 5 0 18 0
2020–21 Women's Super League 18 0 1 0 4 0 23 0
Total 50 2 2 0 11 0 63 2
Tottenham Hotspur 2021–22 Women's Super League 13 1 1 0 4 1 18 2
2022–23 Women's Super League 13 0 2 0 2 0 17 0
2023–24 Women's Super League 5 0 0 0 3 1 8 1
Total 31 1 3 0 9 2 43 3
Leicester City (loan) 2023–24 Women's Super League 6 0 2 0 0 0 8 0
Career total 87 2 7 0 20 2 114 5

References

  1. ^ "South Asian Heritage Month: Leicester City defender Asmita Ale opens up on her Nepalese heritage". www.skysports.com.
  2. ^ "Asmita Ale Talks About Signing Her First Professional Contract With Aston Villa Women". Lexlimbu. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Nepali-origin Ale signs contract with Premier League club Aston Villa". The Himalayan Times. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Asmita Ale named Villa Women Players' Player of the Season!". www.avfc.co.uk.
  5. ^ "Player Update Women's first team". www.tottenhamhotspur.com.
  6. ^ "Asmita Ale signs from Villa". www.tottenhamhotspur.com.
  7. ^ "Women's Super League: Meet five of the brightest young talents". www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. ^ "British South Asians in football: Who makes it into the 2022/23 Team of the Season?". www.skysports.com.
  9. ^ "Asmita Ale Completes LCFC Women Loan". www.lcfc.com.
  10. ^ "Asmita Ale Completes Permanent Foxes Move". www.lcfc.com.
  11. ^ Davies, Callum. "England WU23s and Development Phase squads named". www.englandfootball.com.
  12. ^ Davies, Callum. "England WU23s and development phase squad named for November games". www.englandfootball.com.
  13. ^ "England women's squad updates: New arrivals for seniors, WU23s and WU19s". www.englandfootball.com.
  14. ^ Asmita Ale at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmita_Ale
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