Maya Le Tissier — From Guernsey Grassroots to Manchester United & England Captain

Early Life 

Maya Le Tissier was born on 18 April 2002 in the island of Guernsey, Channel Islands. From the age of four, she began playing football — not in a girls' team (because there was none), but with the boys at St. Martins A.C., coached by her father, Darren. 

Growing up in Guernsey with its limited women’s football infrastructure, Maya would later travel to mainland England (Hampshire) as a teenager to play in girls’ county‑level teams — flying over roughly twice a month. She continued playing for St. Martins until age 16. 

This unusual pathway — playing with boys at home while travelling for girls’ football — helped instil physicality, resilience and a sense of determination early on. As Maya herself said, she didn’t “know any different,” and the early challenges shaped her into the player she is today. 

Club Career

Brighton & Hove Albion: First Steps into Professional Football

On 1 July 2018, Maya joined the academy of Brighton & Hove Albion Women — a major step given her island origins. 

She quickly progressed: her senior debut came on 5 December 2018, starting in a League Cup match against Crystal Palace Women, which ended in a 5–1 victory. Just four days later she made her Women’s Super League (WSL) debut in a league match against Chelsea Women. 

Maya scored her first goal for Brighton on 9 May 2021 in a 3–1 league win over Bristol City Women. Over her time at Brighton, she was awarded Brighton Women’s Young Player of the Season for 2020‑21 and again in 2021‑22. 

Moreover, in March 2021, she was named among the top 10 wonderkids globally by the football‑news site Goal.com via their “NXGN” list. 

By the time she left Brighton, she had established herself as a regular and promising defender. 

Manchester United: Leadership, Consistency, Success

In July 2022 Maya signed for Manchester United Women, marking the next major step in her career. 

Her time at United has been defined by consistency and leadership. She has become a mainstay in defence — starting nearly every match and earning a reputation as one of the best centre‑backs in the WSL. 

On 27 August 2024, following the departure of former captain, she was named club captain. This made her the first player from Guernsey — male or female — to captain Manchester United. 

Under her captaincy, she has led United through high‑pressure matches. Notably, on 8 October 2025, she became the first United Women’s player to score in the UEFA Women’s Champions League — firing home the winning penalty in a 1–0 victory over Valerenga Women. 

Her durability and form are remarkable: by 19 October 2024, she became the youngest player to reach 100 WSL appearances. 

As of late 2025, she holds a WSL consecutive‑start record for a single club — equalling and then breaking prior benchmarks — a testament to her fitness, consistency and importance to the team. 

International Career: From Guernsey to the Lionesses

Maya’s international journey is just as unconventional as her club path. At youth level, she captained the England under-15s, and shortly after was named captain of the under-17 side during qualification for the 2019 UEFA Women’s Under-17 Championship. 

Interestingly, before that, she made history by becoming the first female player to play for the Guernsey under-16 boys’ team — competing in the 2018 Muratti Vase. 

Her senior England debut came in 2022. Since then she has gradually built her profile on the international stage. 

In June 2025 she was selected in the squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2025 — becoming the first person from Guernsey, female or male, to represent England at a major senior tournament. 

While she didn’t get game time in the tournament, her mere inclusion broke barriers for athletes from smaller jurisdictions and highlighted her growing reputation. 

Style of Play, Leadership & Personal Traits

Maya is primarily a centre‑back. Her strengths include defensive awareness, reading the game, aerial presence, and composure under pressure — traits that stand out especially given her background playing with boys in Guernsey, where physicality and rugged playing surfaces were the norm. 

Her leadership qualities shine through — not just in wearing the captain’s armband at United, but in her journey: leaving home at a young age, managing challenges, and carving a pathway for others from Guernsey to follow. In her own words, she is “bubbly,” honest, and values her family’s support deeply, especially her father who coached her from the start. 

In a 2024 interview, Maya said the things she cherishes most are making her England debut and signing for Manchester United — milestones that symbolise her unconventional climb from a small island. She also mentioned she loves wearing pre wrap in her hair.

Honours & Recognition

Through her career so far, Maya has collected both team and individual accolades:

Club honours (with Manchester United):

Winner of the Women's FA Cup in 2023‑24. 

International honours (with England):

Part of the squad that won the UEFA Women’s Championship in 2025. 

Winner of the Women's Finalissima (2023) and the Arnold Clark Cup (2023). 

Individual awards:

Named in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) WSL Team of the Year: 2022‑23, 2024‑25. 

Awarded Brighton Women’s Young Player of the Season (2020‑21, 2021‑22) during her time at Brighton. 

Voted Players’ Player of the Year at Manchester United Women for the 2023–24 season. 

Recognised at the 2024 Women’s Football Awards as Young Player of the Year. 

This honours list underscores how quickly she has risen and how central she has become to both her club and national team.

Personal Background 

Despite sharing a surname and home island with former men’s footballer Matthew Le Tissier, Maya is not related to him — though their families know each other and her father played football with him. 

In a 2024 “20 Questions” interview, Maya admitted she can be honest to a fault (“sometimes think without speaking”) and described herself as bubbly and sociable off the pitch. 

She also spoke of overthinking and being self-critical when she under‑performs — qualities that perhaps push her to maintain the level she holds now. 

Her humility and commitment were shaped in part by the sacrifices her family made — frequent flights, moving away from home at 16 — for her to pursue football.

Why Maya Le Tissier’s Story Matters — Legacy & Inspiration

Maya’s journey stands out for several reasons:

A unique footballing pathway. Coming from a small island with no girls’ teams, playing with boys, flying to the mainland to train — she turned what many would consider obstacles into advantages.

Barrier‑breaking. By captaining a top Women’s Super League club and representing England at a senior major tournament, she became the first from Guernsey — male or female — to do so, providing a pathway and role model for other youngsters from smaller or under‑represented regions.

Professional consistency and maturity. Her ability to start game after game, stay fit, perform under pressure, and lead a top club at a relatively young age suggests strong mental resilience and dedication.

Humility and character. Despite rapid success, she retains self‑awareness, expresses gratitude for her origins and family support, and seems grounded — traits that matter for long-term sustainability in elite sport.

For all these reasons, Maya Le Tissier is more than just a talented defender — she’s a symbol of pathway creation, perseverance, and a reminder that talent from anywhere can reach the top with the right mix of support, opportunity, and drive.