Spotlight attention in global football is a constantly shifting centre-stage, and in the past weeks, Manchester City and England forward Lauren Hemp has been the subject of much talk. Here we go over her profile and achievements, her rise to the top, and what the future holds for the Englishwoman.
Background
Hemp was born on 7 August 2000, and she grew up in North Walsham, Norfolk. She proved to be quite the football prodigy in her teenage years, joining the North Walsham U16 boys team while playing simultaneously for Norwich’s youth team. Hemp’s youth career at Norwich ended in 2015 after the girls’ centre closed. However, she played for the Norwich City Elite Boys’ team for a year before joining Bristol City in 2016.
Senior Club Career
Hemp’s debut goal for the Vixens came in her debut appearance, where she scored their third goal in a 4 – 1 win over Watford. She also went on to win the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award in April 2018. After a bright spell at Bristol, netting 9 times in 24 appearances for the club, Hemp landed on Manchester City’s radar. Hemp signed a deal with the English giants in June 2018, helping the squad to an FA Women’s Cup in her first season.
She opened her accounts at Manchester City in December 2018, scoring in their 4 – 0 win over Aston Villa. Hemp’s contributions continued throughout the season, culminating in a winning goal in their FA Cup final in 2019 to clinch the trophy. She won the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year again in 2020, and in the two seasons that followed.
After signing a two-year extension to her contract in 2022, Hemp ended the season with 10 goals and was the fourth-highest goalscorer in the WSL. That earned her a spot in the WSL Team of the Year as well as the PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year award. She has been crucial to Manchester City’s title charge this season, as they currently top the WSL table.
International Career
Lauren Hemp got her senior debut for the England Women’s national team in 2019, coming on for Beth Mead in the 86th minute against Portugal. She was involved in the Lionesses’ 20 – 0 rout of Latvia in 2021, scoring four times. In 2022, she represented England in the European Championship, eventually assisting Chloe Kelly’s header that helped them grab the trophy.
Hemp won the Finalissima in 2023 and further cemented her name among England legends with her performance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. She scored in the 6 – 1 win over China, scored the equaliser against Columbia in the quarterfinals, and helped England onto their first-ever World Cup final with a goal and an assist against Australia in the semifinal.
As part of the country’s recognition of her achievements, Lauren Hemp was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2024 for her contribution to associated football.
What’s New
The latest on Lauren Hemp is the recent speculation on her future with Manchester City. Her contract runs out in the summer, and the forward has been in talks with Barcelona for a potential move. What started as speculation might turn out to be reality, as DAZN reports that the striker is ‘close to agreement ‘ with Barcelona and won’t be renewing with Manchester City.
The Barcelona Women’s team is the reigning UEFA Women’s champion, and quality like Hemp will be a valuable addition to an already stellar squad.
