• Born: 09/02/2002


• Birthplace: Billingham


• Nationality: English

On Thursday 1st February 2024, Everton announced the signing of Striker Eleanor Dale.

Dale moved to the Blues following the conclusion of her studies at the University of Nebraska in the USA, where she spent three years playing for the Nebraska Huskers.

An England youth international, Dale scored 28 goals and provided five assists in her final season in the States; a standout campaign that saw her become the first Nebraska student-athlete to be awarded the Big Ten Forward of the Year.

Now back on home soil and hungry for a new challenge, Dale told evertontv she was eager to learn and contribute to Brian Sorensen’s Everton.

“I’m really excited to be here,” she said. “It’s been my dream to play in the Women’s Super League.I’m thankful I’ve got this opportunity to come to this amazing club. My priority last year was to have a good season and try get my foot in the door over here. Hopefully I can make a difference and hit the ground running.”

“It’s hard for young players coming to the WSL because it’s such a hard league and everyone wants to play in it,” said Dale.

“I think Brian [Sorensen] does a good job of incorporating youth into the squad. It’s good for me to see that with Emma and Heather, and hopefully I could be given the same chance. It’s been inspiring to see how much the women’s game has changed in England, and I think the only way is up. It motivated me to work really hard to get to this point.”

The young forward already has experience playing competitively in England, having represented Middlesborough and Durham before moving Stateside.

“I know I’m going to gain a lot technically, tactically and I’m going to be pushed really hard to improve here at Everton. I’m really excited for that,” added Dale.

“There are so many great role models in the team. I used to watch Toni Duggan and I would think, ‘I want to be like her one day’. I told her she is going to be a really good role model for me and she’s already said I can text her anytime. It’s really nice to know I have that support. By no means am I the finished product but I think my experience in the United States will help me keep improving. I know what I need work on. I want to be the best that I can and hopefully play for England one day. I’m ready to do anything I can to help me achieve that goal.”

On his latest signing, manager Brian Sorensen believes Dale will need time to settle in but is confident she can impress Evertonians.

“I’m really happy to welcome Eleanor to the Club. There was a lot of interest for her and I’m glad she chose Everton. We want to invest in young English talent and Eleanor definitely fits that category. She’s made some good progress over in America, scoring a lot of goals. She sniffs out opportunities and that’s a key asset. Playing regular college soccer has been important for her development. That regular gametime in a physical league puts her in a good place coming in."

“I’m looking forward to see how she settles in - we’ll give her time to do that – but I’m sure she will do well for us. She is really positive and has a good mindset. When I first spoke with her, I was really impressed with that. When you come across people like that who are determined and committed, it often plays out in a positive way and I’m sure she's going to be loved by our fans because she’s ready to chip in.”

Contracted until:

Source : Everton Women