Get to know Young Lionesses defender Jess Simpson

England women's under-23s defender Jessica Simpson wasn’t always destined to play football growing up, but it didn’t take her long to realise that it was the hobby for her.

“I did start ballet,” she admits ahead of England WU23s' home game against Norway at 7.30pm on Monday 12 October 2026, which you can watch live on the official England app. “I did that with one of my close friends and it just wasn’t for me.

“My mum said I just stomped round like an elephant, so she quickly knew that wasn’t my strong side so moved me up to something more aggressive and physical.”

Fortunately for England and Manchester United, that something was football - even if another sport competed for her attention during her time as a youth player.

“I did swimming really competitively until I was 14/15 and then I kind of had to choose as I couldn’t really do both. It helped with my football, the fitness side. It was swimming or football and I chose football.”

Simpson hasn’t looked back since, going on to join United in 2016 and signing her first professional contract in 2023. On the international stage, she has represented the Young Lionesses at under-17 and under-19 level, and now finds herself part of the under-23s squad.

How it all began

“I remember starting playing football with my cousin, who’s the same age as me,” she reminisces.

“I played with two local boys teams at the time. I really enjoyed it, fell in love with it. My mum just put me into something to let me run around because she needed me to burn a lot of energy off.

“The ref came up to my mum at one of the games and said ‘she needs to be getting into a girls team now’ because I couldn’t play above a certain age with the boys.

“I went to Burnley girls and did a year there, then got a trial at [Manchester] United and got selected there.”

The 21-year-old has now spent a decade at United, the club she followed as a kid, but it could’ve been very different if her dad had got his way.

“I always supported United,” she says. “There’s loads of pictures of me in the United kit and watching England.

“My dad wasn’t very happy because he’s a Liverpool fan. He tried to get me in a Liverpool kit but that was straight off!”

Family is a theme which runs through Simpson’s answers, and she can’t wait for Monday’s game against Norway at the LNER Community Stadium in York as England begin the defence of the U23 European Competition title.

Watch the England WU23s live on our app on Monday

“It’s close to my home. My family will be there and it’ll be nice to play against a really good side, to see where we’re at and what we can build on. It’s literally an hour-and-a-half from my house to York so it’s perfect.

“It’s really nice to be back in with the girls [in camp]. Obviously it’s a new season and lots of exciting, different fixtures coming up. It’s nice to be back in and training with everyone.

“Quite a few new faces as well, so nice to get to know those girls. Obviously I’ve played with quite a lot of them anyway so it was nice to see them.”

Reflecting on winning the U23 European competition title, Simpson, who came off the bench in the 3-0 victory over Sweden in last April’s final, said: “We obviously did a lot of friendlies prior, so it was nice to be involved in something we could actually win and win a trophy.

“It was a nice, competitive game and we won, so that was a nice feeling.”

But that title triumph isn’t her best memory in an England shirt. “It was quite recently when we played at Accrington Stanley,” she admits.

“I did score from a set-piece. It was nice because it was where I grew up in that area.

“My grandad used to take me to the Accrington Stanley games all the time so it was really nice to have all my family there but also people that have supported me and helped me on this journey, at that game.”

The journey with England

Simpson’s England journey began more than five years ago, and she still remembers the feeling of being called up in those early days. She remains as proud as ever to represent her country.

“I got called up for the under-16s for one or two training camps but under-17s [I] was properly [involved],” she remembers.

“Whenever I used to get the email - it used to go to my mum - I used to be so excited. I was so over the moon that it was all working out, all my hard work for club and outside of club.

“It’s always a privilege to put on the England shirt and it’s a very proud moment for me and my family.”

Simpson’s pathway to U23 international has been far from plain sailing, though. In October 2023, while on loan at Bristol City, she suffered a serious ACL injury and missed the rest of the season.

“It was definitely a shock,” she admits. “I did it in a tackle so it was quite different to other people.

“The surgeon actually described it as an MMA fighter [injury] which is crazy. But to do it at such a young age, it definitely teaches you a lot about yourself, but mentally you have to be strong to get through a big injury like that.

“Two other girls did it at the same time and it helped having those two people throughout the whole journey with me. We were on the same timeframe so having them to look up to but also talk to when things got hard.

“It was definitely hard but I’m proud of myself for getting through it.”

After returning to fitness, she returned to Bristol City on loan in January 2025 and then spent last season at WSL 2 side Southampton, playing all 22 games, scoring six times and earning two Player of the Month nominations.

“They’ve [loan spells] definitely helped massively,” she says. “Helped me as person and a player, both on and off the pitch. I’ve definitely grown and matured.

“Last season at Saints was really good. The people were amazing and I got a lot of game time which helped after coming back from an ACL [injury] and being out of the game for so long. It was nice to get consistent minutes and be believed in by the coaches and the players.

“I feel like I’m a completely different person to who I was 12 months ago. It’s all credit to Southampton for giving me that opportunity and for me to showcase what I can do and be confident on the pitch.”

But what is Simpson like off the pitch? “I’m quite a quiet person,” she reveals.

“Do a lot of things myself, go on walks, get a coffee, listen to music. Wordsearches - I do at night to just wind down from everything.

“I love spending time with my Grandma, Doreen, taking her out and spending quality time with her.”

Family and football - the two loves of Simpson’s life. Ballet never stood a chance.

Download the official England all to see Simpson and the England WU23s live on Monday