# Safia Middleton-Patel

Safia Middleton-Patel (born 21 September 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United of the Women's Super League, and the Wales national team.

## Club career
### Manchester United

Having made five appearances for Liverpool under-16s youth team, Middleton-Patel joined Women's Super League club Manchester United in summer 2020. During the 2021–22 season, she was part of the under-21 team that won the WSL Academy League and Academy Cup double. She was named to her first senior matchday squad for the club on 5 February 2022, a WSL match against Arsenal. She signed her first senior professional contract with the club in January 2023.

#### Loan spells

In November 2021, Middleton-Patel joined Blackburn Rovers of the Women's Championship on dual registration terms. She was named to two matchday squads that month but did not make a senior appearance.
On 12 March 2022, she joined WSL club Leicester City on an emergency goalkeeper loan for an away trip to Everton following injuries to Demi Lambourne and Kirstie Levell. She was an unused substitute behind Sophie Harris as Leicester lost 3–2.
On 11 February 2023, Middleton-Patel joined Championship club Coventry United on an emergency goalkeeper loan for a home match against Blackburn Rovers. She made her senior debut the following day, starting as Coventry won 3–1. In total she played three matches, conceding nine goals.
On 26 April 2023, Middleton-Patel returned to Blackburn Rovers on an emergency loan deal. Four days later, she kept her first clean sheet in senior football as Blackburn beat Sunderland 1–0.
On 19 January 2024, she joined Championship club Watford on loan for the remainder of the 2023–24 season. She made a total of six appearances, keeping two clean sheets and conceding eight goals, as Watford finished last and were relegated.

#### 2024–25 season

Following the summer departure of Mary Earps, Middleton-Patel assumed the role of backup behind Phallon Tullis-Joyce. On 11 December 2024, she made her Manchester United debut in the final group stage game of the 2024–25 Women's League Cup against Championship side Newcastle United. United won 5–3.

## International career
### Youth

Middleton-Patel represented Wales at under-17 and under-19, appearing during 2020 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification and 2022 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification as well as 2022 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification.

### Senior

In September 2022, Middleton-Patel received her first senior Wales call-up for 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers against Greece and Slovenia but did not appear. She was recalled to the squad during the next two windows, for two further qualifiers and a friendly but again did not appear for the team. On 15 February 2023, Middleton-Patel made her senior international debut, aged 18, when she started against the Philippines at the 2023 Pinatar Cup. She played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory for Wales. She departed camp prior to the second game in order to appear for the under-19 team.

## Personal life

Middleton-Patel was born to an Indian father and a Welsh mother. In September 2023, Middleton-Patel revealed via social media that she had recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 11 December 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Manchester United | 2021–22 | WSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester United | 2022–23 | WSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester United | 2023–24 | WSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester United | 2024–25 | WSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Manchester United | Total | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2021–22 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leicester City (loan) | 2021–22 | WSL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coventry United (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2022–23 | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Watford (loan) | 2023–24 | Championship | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |

### International

    Statistics accurate as of match played 16 July 2024.
Wales :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 |