Claire Emslie

Claire Emslie (born 8 March 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Angel City FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Scotland national team.

Emslie made her senior international debut for Scotland in 2013. At the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, she scored Scotland's first ever goal in the competition, becoming the first woman to score in a World Cup for Scotland.

She previously played professionally for Hibernian, Bristol City, Manchester City, Orlando Pride, Melbourne City, and Everton.

College career
Between 2012 and 2015, Emslie attended Florida Atlantic University and played for the Florida Atlantic Owls. She ended her college career with 29 goals and 10 assists in four seasons. Emslie majored in exercise physiology.

Hibernian, 2011–13
Emslie began her senior career in 2011 with Scottish Women's Premier League team Hibernian, making her debut in a league game against Falkirk on 24 April. In total, Emslie made thirty-five appearances and scored eighteen times in three seasons with Hibernian, winning the Scottish League Cup in her debut year.

Bristol City, 2016–17
On 16 June 2016, Emslie returned to the UK and joined FA WSL 2 side Bristol City. She went on to score ten goals in twelve matches for Bristol, leading her team to promotion into the FA WSL. She signed a new contract with Bristol in February 2017.

Manchester City, 2017–19
On 1 July 2017, following the end of the shortened FA WSL Spring Series, Emslie joined Manchester City. She scored her first goal for the team in an FA WSL Cup group stage win over Oxford United on 2 November 2017. She won a domestic cup double with City during the 2018–19 season, lifting both the League Cup and FA Cup.

Orlando Pride, 2019–20
On 30 May 2019, Emslie agreed a move to Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League, joining the team after Scotland's involvement at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup which ended on 19 June with a dramatic 3–3 draw against Argentina in the group stage. She was the only one of the Prides' nine players at the World Cup to not progress to the knockout round. She made her debut for the team on 20 July 2019, coming on as a substitute for Rachel Hill in a 1–0 win over Sky Blue FC.

Loan to Melbourne City, 2019–20
Emslie was loaned to Australian club Melbourne City in November 2019 following the end of the 2019 NWSL season. Emslie scored four regular-season goals as Melbourne successfully defended their Premiership title and beat Sydney FC in the 2020 Grand Final in February 2020.

Everton, 2020–22
With the 2020 NWSL season suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Orlando withdrawing from the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup after positive COVID-19 tests among players and staff, Emslie joined FA WSL club Everton on loan in August 2020, ahead of the 2020–21 season. She made the move permanent on 31 December 2020, signing an 18-month contract with Everton.

Angel City FC, 2022–
Angel City FC acquired the rights to sign Emslie in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft in December 2021, and then officially signed with her on 7 July 2022. During the club's inaugural season, Emslie competed in 10 matches recording 784 minutes on the pitch and scoring three goals. During her debut on 9 July, she scored the game-winning goal against the San Diego Wave. On August 28, she scored Angel City's third goal in a 3-1 win against Gotham FC. The club finished their first season in eighth place with a record.

During the 2023 season, Emslie started in 17 of the 20 games she played and scored three goals. She scored the game-opener during the club's 2-1 win against Orlando Pride on April 2. On May 7, she scored a goal and provided an assist during Angel City's 3-2 win against Kansas City Current. She scored Angel City's lone goal, an olympico, in a 4-1 loss to Seattle Reign FC on May 27. Angel City finished in fifth place during the regular season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time where they were eliminated by Seattle in the quarter final match. At the end of the 2023 season, Emslie was Angel City's second highest all-time goal scorer with 7 goals in all appearances.

Emslie scored Angel City's first goal of the 2024 season, a penalty kick against her former club Orlando Pride on March 22, 2024, which ended as a 1-1 draw. On April 21, 2024, Emslie recorded her first brace for Angel City in a 2-1 victory against North Carolina Courage to secure Angel City's first home win of the season.

International career
Emslie has represented Scotland internationally on the senior national team as well as the under-19 and under-17 national teams. She scored goals in consecutive UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship tournaments in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

In June 2013, Emslie made her senior debut against Iceland in an international friendly. After it became clear that she would be based in the United States for a long period, Emslie was not considered for international selection until her studies in Florida concluded and she moved to England. Her second cap came in a friendly against Denmark in January 2017.

In August 2017, She was named to the national team when new manager Shelley Kerr called her up for a friendly against Hungary. Emslie subsequently scored her first senior international goal against Hungary in a 3–0 win at the Telki Training Centre in Pest County.

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
Kerr selected Emslie for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, the first time the nation had ever qualified for the tournament.

Emslie scored Scotland's first-ever World Cup goal on 9 June 2019 in a group stage defeat to England.

Personal life
Emslie was born in Edinburgh to parents Neil and Anna before being raised in Penicuik. She counts former Hibernian teammate Caroline Weir and Bristol teammate Chloe Arthur among her close friends, both of whom also play for Scotland.

Club
.

International

 * Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Emslie goal.

Honours
Hibernian
 * Scottish Women's Premier League Cup: 2011

Manchester City
 * FA Women's League Cup: 2018–19
 * Women's FA Cup: 2018–19

Melbourne City
 * W-League Premiership: 2019–20
 * W-League Championship: 2019–20