Jordan Nobbs

Jordan Nobbs (born 8 December 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays for Women's Super League club Aston Villa and the England women's national team. She has been described as a "combative" central midfielder. She is most notably known for her engine, work rate, and excellent pass selection.

Nobbs previously played for Sunderland and Arsenal, and has represented England at youth and senior level.

Club career

Early career

Nobbs joined the Sunderland centre of excellence aged eight, and was also attached to Middlesbrough as a youngster. In the 2008–09 season, she emulated her father Keith Nobbs by representing Durham schools, while a pupil at Sedgefield Community College.

Sunderland

2008–09: Call up to first team

Upon turning 16 in December 2008, Nobbs began playing for the Sunderland first-team. In her first season in senior football, Nobbs helped Sunderland win the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and reach the 2009 FA Women's Cup final, where they were narrowly beaten by Arsenal.

2009–2011: Awards and transfer

The following season, Nobbs was an "integral" part of Sunderland's success as they finished fifth in their first season back at the top level. In November 2009, Nobbs scored against Arsenal, as Sunderland inflicted only the Gunners' second league defeat in more than six years. At the end of the season, Nobbs was named manager's and player's player of the year at Sunderland. She also won the 2010 FA Young Player of the Year award.

When Sunderland's bid to join the FA WSL failed, Nobbs was approached by several of the leading clubs in the country. She eventually signed for Arsenal in August 2010. With Arsenal awaiting the impending arrival of the FA WSL which would become a summer competition for the first six seasons, Nobbs continued to play for Sunderland in the 2010–11 Premier League. Sunderland won the league that season but were not promoted as the WSL lineup was already confirmed.

Arsenal

2010–13

Nobbs made her Arsenal debut in Serbia in September 2010, as a second-half substitute in a 3–1 UEFA Women's Champions League win over ZFK Masinac. She scored her first goal in the home leg, the sixth goal in a 9–0 win. She appeared in all eight of Arsenal's games starting the last five as Arsenal lost out at the semi final stage to Lyon. On 21 May 2011, Nobbs started for Arsenal as they won the Women's FA Cup final beating Bristol Academy 2–0 at the Ricoh Arena. Nobbs played a key role in the inaugural WSL season as Arsenal won the title while playing 12 of the 14 games, making 9 starts and scoring 1 goal. At the completion of the WSL, the rebranded League Cup was played with Nobbs starting the quarter and semi finals and coming on as a sub for Danielle Carter after 69 minutes in the final against Birmingham City which Arsenal won 4–1.

In the 2012 season, Nobbs appeared in seven of Arsenal's eight Champions League matches scoring four goals in the process as Arsenal were knocked out at the semi final stage for the second consecutive season. Nobbs featured in 13 of Arsenal's 14 matches as they retained the title without losing a match, Nobbs also improved her end product, scoring 5 goals and finishing as the joint sixth top scorer in the league.

For the third consecutive season, Nobbs featured as Arsenal reached the semi final stage of the Champions League, but once again fell short of the final this time to VfL Wolfsburg. Nobbs scored in the 2013 FA Cup final as Arsenal beat Bristol Academy 3–0 at the Keepmoat Stadium. Nobbs was ever present in an ultimately disappointing WSL campaign which saw them fail to qualify for the 2014–15 Champions League, although their 2012 WSL win had already qualified them for the 2013–14 Champions League. Nobbs finished as Arsenal's joint top scorer alongside striker Danielle Carter with six goals. Nobbs played every game as Arsenal won the 2013 WSL Cup, beating Lincoln 2–0 in the final.

2014–15

Nobbs played in Arsenal's first four Champions League matches, scoring four goals, but then picked up a back injury in pre-season, leading her miss the entirety of Arsenal's victorious FA Cup campaign. She did not return during the summer season until 6 July for a substitute appearance in a WSL Cup tie with Chelsea which Arsenal won 3–0. Without Nobbs, Arsenal had only won one of their first five games and were bottom of the league with just a point after four games. By the end of the season, despite only playing nine games, she had scored five goals which left her as Arsenal's joint top scorer with Casey Stoney. Arsenal also reached the WSL Cup final with Nobbs playing the last two group matches, the semi final and the final, but lost 1–0 to Manchester City.

The 2015 WSL was another injury hit season for Nobbs, picking up a hamstring injury 10 minutes into a 0–0 draw with Chelsea on 30 April, just a month before the 2015 World Cup in Canada. On the post-World Cup resumption, Arsenal won the 2015 League Cup, with Nobbs scoring two goals in the final, as well as picking up the Player of the Match award.

2016–17

In the 2016 season, Arsenal required penalties to beat Birmingham City in the FA Cup round of 16 to advance, with Nobbs scoring the decisive kick. In May 2016, Nobbs featured in the 2016 FA Cup final which Arsenal won 1–0 against Chelsea. The WSL season was once again ultimately disappointing for Arsenal, finishing 3rd. Arsenal manager, Pedro Martinez Losa praised Nobbs after a good performance against Notts County in July, "There’s no question about the importance of Jordan Nobbs and what level she can get to. We know her quality and because of how young she is she brings a lot of energy to the team." Arsenal's slim title chances ended in a 1–0 defeat to Man City in September, Losa once again praised Nobbs and said, "I think mainly Jordan Nobbs did very well for us in the game. I think she did a fantastic job. Obviously all the players want to do a fantastic job. There's not one player who wants to lose the ball or miss a pass. But I think Jordan is the one that is stepping up in terms of mentality, competitiveness and also football."

Due to the WSL switching from summer to winter, a shorter season was played in the spring known as the Spring Series. Nobbs played every game as Arsenal made a slow start to the season with two draws against Sunderland and Liverpool. Nobbs scored in the 81st minute against Liverpool to make it 4–3 but a late equaliser denied Arsenal the win. In a tight match against Man City, Nobbs scored a 75th minute free kick from 30 yards to clinch victory. In the final game, Nobbs scored the second goal as Arsenal thrashed Bristol City 5–0. Despite going through the campaign unbeaten, Arsenal fell short of the title, finishing second to Chelsea on goal difference. Nobbs finished as Arsenal's joint top scorer and joint third overall.

2017–18 season

On 24 April 2017, Arsenal beat Liverpool 3–0 with Nobbs scoring two, bringing her total to a half-century of goals for Arsenal. The league season was once again ultimately disappointing as Arsenal missed out on Champions League football by a point to Man City. Nobbs started every game and scored four goals as Arsenal won the 2017–18 WSL Cup. Nobbs scored two goals in the 5–2 group win against Millwall. In the quarter final, Nobbs scored as Arsenal beat Sunderland 3–1

2018–19 season

Nobbs suffered an injury on 18 November 2018 in Arsenal's 4–0 win against Everton. A day later, it was revealed she had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and was a doubt until the new season.

2019–20 season

Nobbs made her return from injury as a half-time substitute in a pre-season friendly against Tottenham Hotspur on 25 August 2019, scoring the third goal in a 6–0 win. Nobbs went on to make her WSL return 295 days on from her anterior cruciate ligament injury as a substitute for Viktoria Schnaderbeck in Arsenal's 2–1 win against West Ham United on 8 September. On 21 April 2020, she signed a new contract.

2020–21 season

On 1 August 2021, Nobbs was carried off on a stretcher during the second half of the 2–1 win in a pre-season friendly against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium after her ankle was caught in a challenge from Erin Cuthbert. On 3 August, Arsenal reported that she had suffered an injury to the ligaments of her right ankle.

2021–22 season

Nobbs made 13 WSL appearances (including 4 from the bench). On 24 April Nobbs scored her 50th WSL goal against Everton. In a WSL game against Aston Villa on 1 May Nobbs was subbed off due to an knee injury which also led to her not being selected for the England 2022 Euros squad.

Aston Villa

On 5 January 2023, it was announced that Nobbs had signed an 18-month contract with Aston Villa with a further option to extend. On 12 February, Nobbs scored a hat-trick in a 6–2 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion.

International career

Youth

Nobbs was called into the England U-15 squad as a 12-year-old. Aged 13, she captained England U-15s against Wales U-15s and scored in a 2–0 victory. At the age of 14, Nobbs had progressed to captaining England's U-17 team.

Nobbs then captained England to fourth place at the 2008 Under-17 World Cup in New Zealand. In July 2009 Nobbs played a starring role as England won the 2009 European Under-19 Championship in Belarus, scoring in the final win over Sweden.

In 2010, Nobbs helped England reach the final of the 2010 European Under-19 Championship in Macedonia, where they lost their title to France. Later that summer, Nobbs played in all three of England's matches at the 2010 Under-20 World Cup in Germany.

Senior

In June 2011, Nobbs was in the senior England party which visited 10 Downing Street ahead of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. She received her first call up to the senior England squad for the final UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying match against Croatia at Banks's Stadium in Walsall on 19 September 2012.

Nobbs made her senior international debut at the 2013 Cyprus Cup, scoring England's first goal in their 4–2 win over Italy on 6 March 2013. She scored her next goal against Wales in October 2013's World Cup qualifier at The Den. Nobbs was made England vice-captain at the 2015 Cyprus Cup, and led the team to winning the trophy as captain Steph Houghton was out injured. Nobbs was named in the squad for the Women's World Cup in 2015, but only played one match due to injury.

Vice-captain Nobbs was ruled out of the 2019 Women's World Cup after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament in November 2018. Nobbs took on a role as a BBC pundit for the World Cup and as a columnist for 90 Minutes magazine.
Nobbs also missed out on the Great Britain women's Olympic football team for the 2020 Olympics.

Career statistics

Club

International

:''Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nobbs goal.''

Honours

Sunderland
*FA Women's Premier League Northern Division: 2008–09
*FA Women's Cup runner-up: 2008–09

Arsenal
*FA WSL: 2011, 2012, 2018–19; runners-up: 2021–22
*FA Women's Cup: 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16; runners-up: 2017–18, 2020–21
*FA WSL Cup: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017–18; runners-up: 2018–19, 2019–20

England U19
*UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship: 2009; runner-up 2010

England
*Cyprus Cup: 2013, 2015
*FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015
*Arnold Clark Cup: 2022, 2023

Individual
* FA Young Player of the Year: 2010
* FA Player of the Year: 2016
* FA Players' Player of the Year: 2017
*London Football Awards London Women's Player of the Year: 2018
*PFA Team of the Year: 2013–14, 2016–17

* FA Women's Super League Player of the Month: February 2023

References

External links

Profile
at the Arsenal F.C. website
Profile
at the Football Association website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nobbs, Jordan
1992 births
Living people
Footballers from Stockton-on-Tees
Footballers from County Durham
English women's footballers
England women's under-23 international footballers
England women's international footballers
Women's association football midfielders
Arsenal W.F.C. players
Aston Villa W.F.C. players
Sunderland A.F.C. Ladies players
Women's Super League players
2015 FIFA Women's World Cup players
UEFA Women's Euro 2017 players