Ella Toone looks slightly different from how fans usually see her when she sits to speak with Sport Mail.
Hair in Pin Curls, a face full of makeup and dressed in a burgundy costume, I meet it in a hotel room at the Fancy Covent Garden Hotel The Nomad, where it draws content for the global make -up brand Charlotte Tilbury.
The 25 -year -old man from Tyldesley, in the Grand Manchester, has established himself as one of the biggest names in women’s football.
She was a key figure in the historic victory of England in Euro 2022, leaving the bench to mark in the quarter -finals against Spain and in the final against Germany in Wembley.
In August 2023, Toone scored his first goal of the World Cup against Australia in the semi-finals, becoming the first footballer, man or woman in England, to score in the quarter-finals, semi-final and final of a major tournament.
What followed was a huge presence on social networks, a YouTube channel, a podcast, a book and contracts with the world brands.
Ella Toone with British entrepreneur and makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury
Toone during a signature event for her book in April
Attend Prince’s Trust Awards in May of last year in London
“There is no pressure on being a model because I am just myself as a person and I will never change,” she told me. “It was a shock after winning the euros, no more people grateful to me and not being able to walk on the street without people asking for a photo.
“It was difficult at first because before that, no one knew much about women’s football. It was a change, but that we wanted.
Tuesday, Toone was appointed to the team in the hope of defending its title of euros, in Switzerland in July.
And after having graduated from a full -fledged starter in the Sarina Wiegman team, Toone is confident that England can win everything.
“There are a lot of talents there and we went to euros and in the World Cup now and we want to make sure to go and do the same thing that we did the last time,” said Toone, who has 19 goals in England in 57 caps.
“The main thing for us was to make the nation proud and to inspire the next generation that passes and to go to the field and give it absolutely everything we have. This time will be more difficult than the previous one, everyone wants to beat us, but that’s what it is and we love these big games.
Toone has 753,000 Instagram subscribers as well as 75,000 subscribers on YouTube and 10.3 million likes on Tiktok.
She tells me that she made the decision to be more open to her life to inspire the next generation and give people an overview of her personality. But with the whole world that looked at her with each movement, she says that she turned to advice to get help to go out of the game and that she is “not a robot”.
Toone lifted the FA Cup with Manchester United last season, the first Club Trophy
It was also a key element of the England team which marked history by winning Euro 2022
Score in the World Cup semi-finals against Australian hosts in 2023
“I found the most difficult thing about my career,” she said. “I am obsessed with football and that’s all I think most of the time. I learned that you have to get away from the game to make sure you can give 100% when you are on the ground.
“I speak to an advisor who really helps me, putting everything on the table to someone who is not involved. And it helped me massively.
“On the other side, I like a little detail therapy of course and shopping, eating good food and being fair with my family and friends.
“With my social media and Youtube, the main thing was to give people a little overview of me away from the field to help them interact with me.
“It is difficult to go see everyone and meet people and spend time with fans, it’s not that lasting now that the game has developed.
“I think I am relatable as a person and that’s what people like so it’s nice to get my personality out. I am not only a robot, I am a human.
Product of the United Youth Academy, Toone was forced to leave the club in 2013 when the owners of United, the Glazer family, dissolved the women’s team.
Instead, she pierced with Blackburn, then crossed Manchester to sign for City in 2016. But she returned to the red side of the city when she heard United entered the newly formed women’s championship in 2018.
Fan passionate of United who grew up in idolatant Cristiano Ronaldo, she received the famous shirt n ° 7 carried by the legend himself as well as David Beckham and Eric Cantona
Toone’s Jersey is now the best -selling female shirt on the United store
Fan passionate of United who grew up in idolish Cristiano Ronaldo, she received the famous shirt no 7 carried by the legend himself as well as David Beckham and Eric Cantona. It is now the best -selling female shirt in the United Store.
She launched her own brand, named ET7, which saw her become the first lioness to mark her name and open her own academy. The academy was a huge success with local talents.
Ella’s boyfriend Joe Bunney, is also a footballer, with Stalybridge Celtic in the Northern Premier League. She attributes to him for helping her create his academy.
She said, “I look at my basal stocking and where I started and my mother always said to me,” Make sure you are never rude, always stay humble “, and I always had that me.
“So when we won the euros and my profile became bigger, I wanted to do something to help this next generation and my community.
“I started the academy and it was a dream. The people around me started, I could not have done it without my boyfriend Joe, he started everything from zero.
“He leads to it and does everything. Girls love it all. And I have another coach there who coached me when I was at the United’s Academy, so having it there, to help these girls and their trips are special.
“I just wanted it to be a place for the girls to come and enjoy the game and catch some of those who could have fallen through the net. The talent we have there is incredible, I’m going to watch and I think Wow, they are much more talented than ever at this age.
Ella’s boyfriend Joe Bunney, is also a footballer, with Stalybridge Celtic in the Northern Premier League
Toone attributes to Bunney to have helped her create his academy
At the best prices in FIFA in January 2024 at the Apollo theater in London
“I just want someone to arrive where they want in football and for me to play a small role, it will be incredible.
While she is dressed and with her hair and makeup, I ask Ella if she likes the glamor that comes now with work. She has been working with the World Makeup brand Charlotte Tilbury since 2023 and has signed other partnerships with Nike, Wow Hydrate and Access Sport.
“Each day, I will train in a tracksuit and a kit without makeup and my hair has become attached,” she said. “And I’m dirty and I’m sweating. Coming and slipping is great and I really appreciate it.
“ I love doing everything, the calendar is more busy, which made things more difficult, and of course, my main goal is to be a footballer at the end of the day, to be able to play regularly, but that kind of thing far from the field that I really like to do.
“When I grew up, the female game was not as seen or heard and now to be in the position I am and have opportunities, to work with brands and to make red carpets, it is something that I would never have thought of happening.
“I just wanted to play football. And being a footballer does not last forever and I kiss all these opportunities. The main thing, however, is that I continue to play on the field.
