Gemma Bonner


Gemma Bonner is an English football defender who plays for Manchester City Women and the England women's national football team. In November 2012 she signed for Liverpool Ladies of the FA WSL, after beginning her career with home town club Leeds United then spending two seasons with Chelsea in 2011 and 2012. She captained Liverpool to the 2013 FA WSL title and made her debut for the senior England women's national football team in September 2013. At UEFA Women's Euro 2013 Bonner was part of England's squad but did not play.

Club career

Early career

Bonner started playing football as soon as she could run and by the age of eight had already joined Leeds United.

Leeds United

While at Leeds, the defender won the League Cup in 2010, and was in the runner-up team of the FA Cup in 2008.

Chelsea

Her versatility with both feet and strong aerial ability were the main attributes that brought Chelsea calling in January 2011, when the Blues secured her signature ahead of the Women's Super League.
She played in the first ever FA Cup Final of Chelsea, in 2012. The young defender scored her only goal of the 2011–12 FA Women's Cup in their 2–0 away win against The Belles in the 6th round, helping her side to secure their place in the semi finals. In the penalty shoot-out of the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final, she was unable to convert her penalty into a goal. She blazed hers over the bar to hand the Cup to Birmingham.
Bonner scored her first league goal for Chelsea in the very next game after the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final, against their cup final opponents Birmingham.

Liverpool

In November 2012 Bonner signed for Liverpool. In doing so she linked up with her ex-Chelsea manager Matt Beard and expressed her excitement at the move: "I am delighted to be joining Liverpool at a key time in my football career and have been greatly influenced by the commitment that Liverpool FC are showing towards women's football. When the opportunity to work with Matt again came I was pleased to take it and I am excited for the challenge ahead."
With Bonner as captain Liverpool won the league title in 2013 and 2014 but were much less successful in 2015, finishing second bottom. She extended her contract with the club in November 2015.

Manchester City

Bonner left Liverpool in June 2018 after six years and a total of 115 appearances, to join Manchester City Women.

International career

An England representative at Under 17s, Under 19s, Under 20s and Under 23s level by the age of 19, Bonner has accumulated a wealth of international experience. She was in the England Under 17s World Cup team, in which they ended in the fourth place. In 2009 Bonner was part of the England Under 19s European Championship winning side.
Bonner received her first senior team call-up for the UEFA Euro 2013 qualifier away to Croatia in March 2012.
Bonner made her first senior appearance in September 2013, under interim coach Brent Hills, in an 8–0 World Cup qualifying win over Turkey at Fratton Park. She was recalled to the team by incoming coach Phil Neville in January 2018, but an ankle ligament injury ruled her out of the 2018 SheBelieves Cup in March.
In February 2019 Bonner was added to the England squad for the SheBelieves Cup following an injury to Millie Bright.

International goals

GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 March 2014GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus2–03–02014 Cyprus Cup

Honours

Club

Leeds United
Liverpool Ladies
England
England U19