Demi Stokes
Full nameDemi Lee Courtney Stokes[1]
Birth date12 December 1991 (age 34)
Birth placeDudley, England[2][3]
Height5.2 ft (1.59 metres)[4]
PositionLeft-back
CurrentclubNewcastle United
Clubnumber3
Youthyears 1–2007
Youthclubs 1Sunderland
Collegeyears 12011–2014
College 1South Florida Bulls
Years 12007–2011
Clubs 1Sunderland
Caps 142
Goals 17
Years 22012
Clubs 2Vancouver Whitecaps
Caps 213
Goals 20
Years 32015–2024
Clubs 3Manchester City
Caps 3113
Goals 34
Years 42024–
Clubs 4Newcastle United
Caps 447
Goals 42
Nationalyears 12009–2010
Nationalteam 1England U19
Nationalcaps 115
Nationalgoals 16
Nationalyears 22010
Nationalteam 2England U20
Nationalcaps 23
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32010–2013
Nationalteam 3England U23
Nationalcaps 36
Nationalgoals 31
Nationalyears 42014–2022
Nationalteam 4England
Nationalcaps 469
Nationalgoals 41
Nationalyears 52021
Nationalteam 5Great Britain
Nationalcaps 53
Nationalgoals 50
Club-update7 January 2026
Ntupdate13:54, 23 November 2023 (UTC)
Collegecaps 173
Collegegoals 117

Demi Lee Courtney Stokes (born 12 December 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Women's Super League 2 club Newcastle United.[5] She previously played for Manchester City in the Women's Super League.

Club career

Stokes joined Sunderland's youth academy as an 8-year-old and began playing in the first team at 16.[6] She was part of the team which won the 2008–09 FA Women's Premier League Northern Division and lost the 2009 FA Women's Cup final 2–1 to Arsenal.[3] She accepted a four-year scholarship to the University of South Florida in 2011.[7]

In 2012 Stokes played 13 games for Vancouver Whitecaps in the pro-am North American W-League.[8]

In January 2015, Stokes signed a three-year professional contract with Manchester City.[9] After 9 years at the club, it was announced that Stokes would leave Manchester City at the end of her contract on 18 May 2024.[10]

On 10 July 2024, Stokes joined Women's Championship club Newcastle United.[11] Following the departure of Amber Keegan-Stobbs, Stokes was named as Newcastle's captain ahead of the 2025-26 season.[12]

International career

England

In July 2009 Stokes featured as England under-19 won the 2009 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Belarus, with a 2–0 final win over Sweden. In 2010, she helped England reach the final of the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in Macedonia, where they lost their title to France. Later that summer Stokes started two of England's three games at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Germany.[7]

Newly appointed England coach Mark Sampson included Stokes in a 30-player squad for the annual training camp in La Manga, which included a match against Norway on 17 January 2014.[13] She started the 1–1 draw with Norway at left back, to win her first senior cap.[14] In April 2014 she scored in England's 9–0 thrashing of Montenegro at Falmer Stadium, Brighton and Hove.[15]

Stokes was disappointed to be left out of England's squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.[16] She was restored to the squad for the subsequent UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying campaign. In the group stage of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Stokes played left back in England's match against Japan where she helped England win 2–0.[17] Stokes also played in the quarter-final against Norway, helping England beat Norway 3–0.[18]

In June 2022 Stokes was included in the England squad which won the UEFA Women's Euro 2022.[19][20]

Stokes was allotted 183 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.[21][22]

Great Britain

In July 2013 Stokes captained Great Britain to a gold medal in the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia.[1] On 27 May 2021 it was announced that Stokes had been selected in the Great Britain women's Olympic football team for the 2020 Olympics.[23]

Personal life

Stokes is of Jamaican descent through her father.[24] She went to Gateshead College so she could continue to study whilst still playing football.[25] As a child, she played with Boldon CA girls' team, as did future England teammates Steph Houghton and Jill Scott;[26] as part of the "Where Greatness Is Made" campaign, plaques honouring Stokes and Scott were installed at the club in 2022.[27]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland2007–08WPLR8000——80
2008–09WPLR13020——150
2009–10WPLN21321——234
2010–11WPLN17720——197
Total59106100006511
Vancouver Whitecaps2012USL W-League130———130
Manchester City2015Women's Super League140305000220
2016Women's Super League162304000232
2017Women's Super League70—0080150
2017–18Women's Super League150404082312
2018–19Women's Super League111402000171
2019–20Women's Super League140203040230
2020–21Women's Super League100201020150
2021–22Women's Super League191504020301
2022–23Women's Super League3010302090
2023–24Women's Super League400010—50
Total11342402702601906
Newcastle United2024–25Women's Championship2013031—262
2025–26Women's Super League 21701030—150
Total311406100412
Career total2151534133126031019

International

YearEnglandGreat Britain
AppsGoalsAppsGoals
2014121-
201580-
201690-
2017160-
201840-
201980-
202010-
20216030
2022100-
Total74130
Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.5 April 2014Falmer Stadium, Brighton and Hove, EnglandMontenegro7–09–0World Cup 2015 qualification

Honours

Sunderland

Manchester City[29]

England

See also: England women's national football team#Collective honours

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ "Athlete Information". Universiade Kazan 2013 Russia. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Women's World Cup 2019: Mapping England's Lionesses squad". BBC Sport. 2 July 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Demi Stokes player profile". MCFC[dead link]
  4. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ List of Players - England". FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 8. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Demi Stokes signs for Newcastle United Women". 10 July 2024. Newcastle United (official website). Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Demi Stokes: England profile". The Football Association. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Demi Stokes". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Vancouver Whitecaps FC. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  8. ^ "2012 Statistics". United Soccer Leagues. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  9. ^ "Demi Stokes joins Manchester City Women on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  10. ^ "Roebuck, Stokes, Mace & Angeldahl leaving Man City". BBC Sport. 18 May 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Newcastle sign England defender Stokes". BBC Sport. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Demi Stokes appointed Newcastle United Women captain". www.newcastleunited.com. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Lianne Sanderson recalled to England training squad". British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 December 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  14. ^ "New England women's boss Mark Sampson denied winning start". British Broadcasting Corporation. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  15. ^ Magowan, Alistair (5 April 2014). "Toni Duggan hits hat-trick as England thrash Montenegro 9–0". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  16. ^ Brookes, Christian (19 January 2016). "Demi Stokes interview: Lionesses defender's breakout beats with the Bulls". Beats & Rhymes FC. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  17. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ - Matches - Japan - England". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  18. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ - Matches - Norway - England". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  19. ^ Davies, Callum (15 June 2022). "England Women's final squad named for Euro 2022". England Football.com. The FA. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  20. ^ England Squad. UEFA. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  21. ^ "England Player Legacy and Results Archive". The Football Association. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  22. ^ Lacey-Hatton, Jack (2022-11-18). "Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present". mirror. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  23. ^ "Team GB: Steph Houghton, Sophie Ingle and Caroline Weir in Olympics squad". bbc.co.uk. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  24. ^ Oatway, Demi Stokes, Caroline. "Letter to My Younger Self: Demi Stokes". www.mancity.com
  25. ^ "Gateshead College". Gateshead College. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  26. ^ Goodwin, Nicole (2023-01-09). "Jill Scott returns to Boldon Girls club to visit aspiring Lionesses in BBC show". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  27. ^ "England's Euro 2022 winners honoured with gold plaques at local football clubs". 90min. 2022-09-22. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  28. ^ "Arsenal win FA Women's Cup". 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2022-12-15.
  29. ^ "D. Stokes". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  30. ^ Sanders, Emma (31 July 2022). "England beat Germany to win first major women's trophy". BBC. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  31. ^ "England record statement win over Japan to clinch prestigious SheBelieves Cup". The Football Association. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  32. ^ "England 3 - 1 Germany". BBC Sport. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  33. ^ "PFA WSL 1 Team of the Year: Five Chelsea Ladies players named". bbc.com. BBC. 19 April 2018.
  34. ^ "PFA Women's Team of the Year: Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate". The Guardian. 26 April 2019.
  35. ^ "Lionesses and Sarina Wiegman given Freedom of the City of London after Euros win". ITV News. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2022-08-01.

Further reading

  • Aluko, Eniola (2019), They Don't Teach This, Random House, ISBN 9781473564480
  • Caudwell, Jayne (2013), Women's Football in the UK: Continuing with Gender Analyses, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9781317966234
  • Dunn, Carrie (2019), Pride of the Lionesses: The Changing Face of Women's Football in England, Pitch Publishing (Brighton) Limited, ISBN 9781785315411
  • Dunn, Carrie (2016), The Roar of the Lionesses: Women's Football in England, Pitch Publishing Limited, ISBN 9781785311512
  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368