Anita Asante

Arsenal

Asante joined Arsenal as a junior in 1998. She attended a training session hosted by Claire Wheatley and Rachel Yankey, which led her to join the club's Centre of Excellence. She became a senior player in the 2003–04 season. Asante was part of the Arsenal team that won UEFA Women's Cup (now known as the Women's Champions League) in 2006–07, becoming the first English team to secure the title. In the same season, Arsenal won the quadruple, collecting the UEFA Women's Cup, FA Women's National Premier League, FA Women's Cup and the FA Women's Premier League Cup. In total, Asante won 13 trophies during her time at Arsenal, including five league titles.

Chelsea

On 3 July 2008, it was announced that Asante, along with teammate Lianne Sanderson, had joined rivals Chelsea. Arsenal manager Vic Akers publicly criticised the players after their departure, saying "You think you've the respect of players, and then they do that. It's a sorry state of affairs."

Women's Professional Soccer

In 2009, Asante joined New Jersey–based WPS franchise Sky Blue FC. She helped the club win the inaugural WPS championship. On 6 May 2010, Asante was traded to the Saint Louis Athletica in return for India Trotter. When the Saint Louis Athletica folded on 27 May 2010, she was acquired by the Chicago Red Stars. She was subsequently traded to the Washington Freedom on 6 August 2010. In December 2010, Asante returned for a second spell at Sky Blue FC, after Jim…

Youth teams

Asante played in the England Under 17 team. She also was a member and captain of the England Under 19s and played in the inaugural FIFA World Under 19 Championship in Canada in 2002. She was called up to the first England Under 21s team in 2004, a month after her senior international début.

Senior team

Asante made her senior international debut as a substitute against Iceland in May 2004. She scored her first international goal in only her second international start, a victory against Norway in May 2005. Asante was named in England's squad for Euro 2005. Asante played in the 2011 World Cup and made her 50th senior international appearance in England's 2–0 win over eventual champions Japan. Having been part of the English squad which reached the final of Euro 2009, Asante was confident of England's chances ahead of Euro 2013. She was substituted at half time in England's 3–0 defeat to France which sealed a first round elimination. In 2015, politically vocal Asante was "a glaring omission" from England's squad for the 2015 World Cup in Canada, having been the only English player to sign a petition against the controversial artificial turf used at the tournament. She criticised the head coach Mark Sampson for the manner in which he informed her of her non selection and his unwillingness to enter into further correspondence on the matter. Incoming England head coach Phil Neville recalled Asante for the 2018 SheBelieves Cup. At the opening match of…

In 2023, Asante was inducted into the Women's Super League Hall of Fame, alongside Jill Scott and Ellen White.

Coaching

On 19 July 2022, Asante was announced as first team coach of Women's Championship side Bristol City W.F.C. Bristol City were promoted to the WSL for the 2022–23 season. In 2023, she joined England women's U23 coaching squad.

Asante was born in London, and is the eldest of three siblings. Asante studied Politics and English for her BA at Brunel University Business School, while also benefiting from the UK "Government's Talented Athletes Scholarship Scheme" to assist athletes in full-time education. She started a PhD in the United States on the governance of women's football.