Safia Middleton-Patel

Safia Middleton-Patel (born 21 September 2004) is a 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===
Middleton-Patel joined Women's Super League club Manchester United from Liverpool 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 and conceded 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.
==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==
In September 2023, Middleton-Patel revealed via social media that she had recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
==Career statistics==
===Club===
 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
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
Career total 	Career total	Career total	4 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	4 	0
===International===
:Statistics accurate as of match played 15 February 2023.
Wales	Wales	Wales
Year 	Apps 	Goals
2023 	1 	0
Total	1 	0
Category:2004 births
Category:Footballers
Category:Wales women's international footballers
Category:Manchester United W.F.C. players