Alessia Russo is an English forward who developed through youth football in Kent and the academies of Charlton Athletic and Chelsea before making senior appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion. She later moved to the United States to study and play for the North Carolina Tar Heels, establishing herself as one of the leading players in college soccer before returning to England with Manchester United in 2020.
Russo developed into one of the Women's Super League's leading forwards at Manchester United before joining Arsenal in 2023. With Arsenal she became a central part of the attack and played a major role in the club's European and domestic campaigns, while also earning individual recognition including England Women's Player of the Year for 2023/24 and the FWA Women's Footballer of the Year for 2024/25.
At international level, Russo represented England throughout the youth age groups before making her senior debut in 2020. She was part of England's UEFA Women's Euro-winning teams in 2022 and 2025 and the side that reached the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup final. Known for her movement, physical presence and finishing, she has scored important goals in major tournaments, including her memorable backheel against Sweden in the Euro 2022 semi-final and England's equaliser against Spain in the Euro 2025 final.
Russo comes from a sporting family. Her father, Mario Russo, played non-league football for clubs including Metropolitan Police, while her brothers have also competed in sport.
