Safia Middleton-Patel

About

Safia Middleton-Patel (born 21 September 2004) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Women’s Super League 2 club Watford, on loan from WSL club Manchester United, and the Wales national team.

Having made five appearances for Liverpool under-16s youth team, Middleton-Patel joined Women’s Super League club Manchester United in summer 2020. During the 2021–22 season, she was part of the under-21 team that won the WSL Academy League and Academy Cup double. She was named to her first senior matchday squad for the club on 5 February 2022, a WSL match against Arsenal. She signed her first senior professional contract with the club in January 2023. On 21 August 2025, Middleton-Patel signed a new contract with Manchester United, keeping her at the club until June 2028.

In November 2021, Middleton-Patel joined Blackburn Rovers of the Women’s Championship on dual registration terms. She was named to two matchday squads that month but did not make a senior appearance.
On 12 March 2022, she joined WSL club Leicester City on an emergency goalkeeper loan for an away trip to Everton following injuries to Demi Lambourne…