Gemma Jayne Evans (born 1 August 1996) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League 2 club Newcastle United and the Wales national team.

Early life

Evans was born and raised in Gelli, Rhondda.[2][3] She starting playing football at age 10 for a local team named Ton & Gelli.[4] At 13, she switched to playing for an all-girls team, Ferndale Fillies which was later renamed Cambrian and then subsequently changed to Valleys United. She then went on to play for Port Talbot Town Ladies for two years.[4]

Club career

Cardiff and Yeovil

Evans played for Cardiff City L.F.C. from 2015 to 2017. She joined FA WSL 1 side Yeovil Town on 6 September 2017, alongside Welsh international teammate Chloe Lloyd.[5][6] She made her Yeovil debut in a 1–0 FA WSL1 defeat away to Bristol City on 30 September 2017.

Bristol City

Evans signed for FA WSL side Bristol City on 20 July 2018,[7][8] making her debut on 19 August 2018 in an FA Women's League Cup tie against Leicester City and going on to spend three years with the club, scoring twice in 66 appearances; Bristol were relegated to the FA Women's Championship at the end of her final season.

Reading

She then signed for FA WSL side Reading F.C. Women on a free transfer on 5 July 2021.[9][10] Evans made her Royals debut on the opening day of the 2021–22 FA WSL season, in a 2–0 defeat to Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village on 3 September 2021.[11] She scored her only goal for the club in a 3–1 League Cup win over Crystal Palace on 17 November 2021.[12]

After 51 appearances for Reading over two seasons, Evans was released at the end of the 2022–23 FA WSL season, in which Reading finished in 12th place and were relegated.[13][14]

Manchester United

On 6 July 2023, Evans signed for Manchester United.[15]

She made her United debut on 15 October 2023, in a 1–1 WSL draw with Leicester City.[16] On 12 May 2024, Evans was an unused substitute as the club won its first FA Women's Cup, and its first major trophy, with a 4–0 win over Spurs at Wembley Stadium.[17]

Liverpool

On 16 August 2024, Evans joined Liverpool.[18] She made her debut for the Reds on 22 September 2024 in a 1–1 draw with Leicester City.[19]

Newcastle United

Evans signed for FA WSL2 side Newcastle United on 3 July 2026.[20]

International career

Evans made her debut for Wales in a 2–0 defeat to Norway during UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying on 7 June 2016. She won her fiftieth cap on 21 February 2023, in a 0–0 draw with Iceland in the 2023 Pinatar Cup.[21][22][23]

In June 2025, Evans was named in Wales' squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025,[24] and has 77 Cymru caps. During the match against the Republic of Ireland, she lost her tooth during a tackle. She has donated the tooth to the Welsh football museum in Wrexham.[25]

Personal life

Evans holds a degree from the University of South Wales.[26]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 16 May 2026[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Yeovil Town 2017–18 Women's Super League 1800041—221
Bristol City 2018–19 Women's Super League 1912040—251
2019–20 Women's Super League 1202050—190
2020–21 Women's Super League 2011061—271
Total 5125015100712
Reading 2021–22 Women's Super League 2202031—271
2022–23 Women's Super League 1903030—250
Total 410506100521
Manchester United 2023–24 Women's Super League 120304000190
Liverpool 2024–25 Women's Super League 1604020—220
2025–26 Women's Super League 11 0 2 1 4 1 — 17 2
Total 27 0 6 1 6 1 0 0 39 2
Career total 1492191354002036

International

As of match played 7 March 2026
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales 2016 3 0
2017 9 0
2018 4 0
2019 8 0
2020 3 0
2021 9 1
2022 12 0
2023 8 0
2024 11 0
2025 13 0
2026 2 0
Total 86 1
List of international goals scored by Gemma Evans
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 18 September 2021 Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales  Kazakhstan 5–0 6–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
2 9 June 2026 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Czech Republic 2–1 3–1 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification

Honours

Manchester United

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/07/2018 and 31/07/2018" (PDF). The FA. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  2. ↑ "USW Women in Football – Gemma Evans, Welsh footballer". University of South Wales. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Port Talbot Town Ladies v Aberystwyth Town Ladies". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Sport and Sexism: We Interviewed Boxed Charlene Jones and Footballer Gemma Evans". Ditch the Labels. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "We interview Cardiff City Football Player Gemma Evans and Boxer Charlene Jones". 6 September 2017. Archived from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Gemma Evans". Yeovil Town. 6 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Gemma Evans Signs for Bristol City Women FC". Bristol City F.C. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  8. ↑ "Bristol City Women sign Gemma Evans and Julie Biesmans agrees new contract". BBC Sport. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  9. ↑ "Gemma Evans joins the Royals". Reading. 5 July 2021.
  10. ↑ "Gemma Evans: Reading sign Wales centre-back after Bristol City departure". BBC Sport. 5 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  11. ↑ Sanders, Emma (3 September 2021). "WSL: Manchester United beat Reading in season opener – radio & text". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  12. ↑ "Match Report: Crystal Palace 1 – 3 Reading Women". Reading WFC. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  13. ↑ Glendenning, Barry (27 May 2023). "Chelsea crowned WSL champions again after 3–0 win at Reading – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  14. ↑ "Reading FC Women players released as contracts expire". Reading WFC. 29 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  15. ↑ "United Women sign Gemma Evans". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. 6 July 2023. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  16. ↑ Holt, Matthew (15 October 2023). "Evans reacts following United bow". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  17. 1 2 Sanders, Emma (12 May 2024). "Women's FA Cup final: Manchester United beat Tottenham to win first major trophy". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Liverpool FC Women complete signing of Gemma Evans – Liverpool FC". www.liverpoolfc.com. 16 August 2024.
  19. ↑ Shaw, Chris (22 September 2024). "Liverpool and Leicester draw 1–1 in WSL season-opener". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  20. ↑ "Newcastle United Women sign Gemma Evans". Newcastle United. 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Jones, Dafydd (7 June 2016). "Women's Euro 2017 qualifier: Wales 0–2 Norway". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  22. ↑ Marsh, Philip (17 February 2023). "Pinatar Cup: Gemma Evans feeling 'out of this world' ahead of 50th Wales cap". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  23. ↑ Marsh, Philip (18 February 2023). "Pinatar Cup: Iceland 0–0 Wales – Missed chances cost Wales in goalless draw". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  24. ↑ "Cymru squad announced for UEFA Women's EURO 2025 finals". Football Association of Wales. 19 June 2025. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  25. ↑ Coleman, Tom (25 February 2025). "The humble Valleys girl with the missing tooth who achieved her dream". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  26. ↑ "Factfile: All you need to know about Gemma Evans". Liverpool FC. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 5 November 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  27. ↑ Gemma Evans at Soccerway
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemma_Evans_(footballer)