Martha Ellen Thomas (born 31 May 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Women's Super League 2 club Newcastle United. Born in England and raised mainly in the United States, she plays for the Scotland national team. Thomas played four years of college soccer for Charlotte 49ers before playing professionally with French Division 2 Féminine club Le Havre, West Ham United in 2019 and Manchester United of the English Women's Super League in 2021.
Early life Thomas was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, to a Scottish mother, Christine, and English father, Andrew. She grew up in Dorchester until 2001 when the family moved to Atlanta, when her father got a job in the United States. They briefly returned to Dorchester in 2003 where Thomas played for Dorchester Town for a season before once again relocating to the States, this time to Weston, Florida, at the age of six. While in Weston, she played for youth club Weston FC.
College career Thomas played college soccer for Charlotte 49ers, captaining the team for two seasons. In her first year, Thomas led the team in goals with 11 and was voted Conference USA Freshman of the Year. The following three years, Thomas was selected to the All-Conference USA First Team as well as being voted as the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. Upon leaving, Thomas ranked as the school's all-time leading goalscorer with 47. She was also named team MVP in each of her four seasons.
Club career Thomas had hoped to enter the 2018 NWSL College Draft in January 2018, but suffered an ACL injury in her final appearance for the 49ers in November 2017. Having rehabbed, Thomas belatedly began her professional career with Le Havre AC in the French Division 2, signing for the club in August 2018. She made her debut on 21 October 2018, starting in a 1–0 defeat to Stade de Reims. She scored 6 goals in 13 league appearances as Le Havre finished second.
On 16 July 2019, Thomas signed for West Ham United of the FA WSL, taking the number 9 shirt following the departure of Jane Ross. Thomas started and scored on her debut, the season opener as West Ham lost 2–1 away to reigning champions Arsenal on 8 September 2019. She scored her first career hat-trick during the first half of a 5–0 win against Reading on 3 April 2021. On 21 May 2021, it was confirmed Thomas would leave West Ham after two seasons following the expiration of her contract.
On 28 July 2021, Thomas signed for Manchester United on a two-year deal with the option of an additional year.
On 14 September 2023, Thomas signed a two-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur. She scored on her debut in a 2–1 away defeat to Chelsea on 1 October that year.
On 17 January 2026, Thomas was loaned to Liverpool until the end of the 2025–26 season.
In July 2026, Thomas joined WSL 2 side Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee.
International career
Thomas represented the United States at youth level, playing for the under-23 team in 2019 at the Portland Thorns Spring Invitational preseason tournament. She had not yet acquired American citizenship, however, making her ineligible to represent the senior team.
Thomas was eligible to represent both England and Scotland at the senior level. In September 2019 she attended a training camp with the Scotland national team. She subsequently received her first call-up to the Scotland squad on 25 October 2019 but was forced to withdraw through injury. She was again selected by Scotland for the 2020 Pinatar Cup and scored two goals as she made her international debut in a 3–0 win against Ukraine on 4 March 2020. Thomas scored another brace in her seventh appearance for Scotland on 19 February 2021 during a 10–0 victory over Cyprus as part of UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying, the first time Scotland had hit double figures since 2015. Despite the emphatic victory, Scotland had already been eliminated from qualification in December 2020.
During UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying, Thomas scored four goals in a 5–0 win against Israel.
Personal life Thomas' great uncle, Jim Kirkland, also played football professionally for Aberdeen in the Scottish top-flight.
She is in a relationship with fellow footballer Ellie Leek. The two met while both playing for Le Havre. The couple announced their engagement on 22 December 2022, and they were married on 29 December 2024.
She has been a vocal supporter of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLe Havre2018–19D2 Féminine13620—156West Ham United2019–20Women's Super League10400311352020–21Women's Super League1640031195Total26800623210Manchester United2021–22Women's Super League18520412462022–23Women's Super League2015041292Total3867082538Tottenham Hotspur2023–24Women's Super League197414227102024–25Women's Super League22010312612025–26Women's Super League1010031132Total518511046613Liverpool (loan)2025–26Women's Super League61310092Career total1342917224817539
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsScotland2020622021442022942023131202410102025100Total5221
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Thomas goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Martha ThomasNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition14 March 2020Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain 1–0 3–0 2020 Pinatar Cup22–0319 February 2021AEK Arena, Larnaca, Cyprus 2–0 10–0 UEFA Euro 2022 qualifying49–0517 September 2021Hidegkuti Nándor Stadion, Budapest, Hungary 2–0 2–0 2023 World Cup qualifying621 September 2021Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 5–1 7–1719 February 2022Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain 2–0 2–0 2022 Pinatar Cup824 June 2022Stadion Miejski w Rzeszowie, Rzeszów, Poland 3–0 4–0 2023 World Cup qualifying94–0106 September 2022 Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands 4–0 6–0 1114 July 2023Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland 3–0 3–0 Friendly 1224 February 2024Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain 1–0 2–0 2024 Pinatar Cup132–014 27 February 2024 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain 1–1 1–1 1531 May 2024 Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland 4–0 4–1 UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying 164 June 2024 Budaörsi Városi Stadium, Budaörs, Hungary 1–0 5–0 172–0183–0194–02025 October 2024 Bozsik Aréna, Budapest, Hungary 1–0 1–0 UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs 2129 October 2024 Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland 4–0 4–0
Honours Charlotte 49ers Conference USA Women's Soccer Tournament: 2016
Manchester United Women's FA Cup runner-up: 2022–23
Tottenham Hotspur Women's FA Cup runner-up: 2023–24
Scotland Pinatar Cup: 2020
Individual Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year: 2016, 2017 Pinatar Cup Top scorer: 2020 WSL Player of the Month: October 2023
References
External links
Martha Thomas at Charlotte 49ers