Anouk Denton

Anouk Stephanie Denton (Dutch: [aːˈnuk]; born 9 May 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club West Ham United and the England U23 team. She previously played American college soccer with NCAA Division I club Louisville Cardinals.

Anouk Denton

Denton with West Ham in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Anouk Stephanie Denton[1]
Date of birth	(2003-05-09) 9 May 2003 (age 21)[2]
Place of birth	St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	West Ham United
Number	18
Youth career
2011–2016	St Albans City
2016–2020	Arsenal
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Louisville Cardinals	28	(2)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2021	Arsenal	1	(0)
2021	→ West Ham United (loan)	3	(0)
2023–	West Ham United	39	(2)
International career‡
2019	England U17	2	(0)
2022	England U19	7	(0)
2022–	England U23	9	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:24, 4 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:44, 3 April 2025 (UTC)[3]

Club career

Youth and college

Denton played for St Albans Girls' School which occasionally had coaching from Arsenal players such as Leah Williamson.^[4] Whilst she was there, she was scouted by Arsenal. As a result, Denton joined their academy in 2016.^[4] In May 2021, Denton committed to the University of Louisville as part of their recruiting class of 2021.^[5]

Arsenal

In October 2020, due to an injury crisis at Arsenal, Denton was named on the bench for Arsenal's FA WSL match against Brighton & Hove Albion but did not play.^[6] On 18 October, she made her Arsenal debut after coming on as a substitute in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Meadow Park which Arsenal won 6–1.^[7]

West Ham United (loan)

On 18 April 2021, Denton scored her debut goal for West Ham in the 11–0 victory over Chichester & Selsey in the 2020–21 FA Cup fourth round. On 16 May 2021, in the fifth round of the tournament, she scored her second senior goal in a 5–1 loss to Manchester City.^[8]

West Ham United

On 21 January 2023, it was confirmed that Denton had rejoined West Ham following a spell in the US collegiate side Louisville Cardinals. It was announced that she had signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the London club.^[9]

International career

Denton has represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-23 youth level.^[2]

In October 2019, she represented the under-17 team for 2020 U-17 European Championship qualification, starting in winning matches against Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.^[10]

In April 2022, Denton featured as left-back in the starting eleven for the under-19s in the second round of 2022 U-19 Championship qualification in victories over Wales, Iceland and Belgium.^[11] In the final tournament, she again started as left-back against Norway and Germany.^[12]

On 30 September 2022, Denton was first called up to the under-23 squad for fixtures against Norway and Sweden.^[13] In February 2024, she was called up to the U23 training camp for European League fixtures,^[14] making her debut for the team on 22 February in a 3–1 defeat to Spain.^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024^[1][3]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Arsenal	2020–21	Women's Super League	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
West Ham United (loan)	2020–21	Women's Super League	3	0	2	2	0	0	5	2
West Ham United	2022–23	Women's Super League	5	0	0	0	1	0	6	0
	2023–24	Women's Super League	15	0	1	0	3	0	19	0
	2024–25	Women's Super League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		23	0	3	0	4	0	30	0
Career total			24	0	3	2	5	0	31	2

1. Includes Women's FA Cup
2. Includes FA Women's League Cup