Lily Simkin

Lily Simkin
Personal information
Full name Lily Simkin
Date of birth (2003-09-09) 9 September 2003
Place of birth Walsall, England
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number 6
Youth career
2014–2019 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2023 Birmingham City 13 (0)
2025– Wolverhampton Wanderers
International career
England U15
2019 England U17
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 April 2023

Lily Simkin (born 9 September 2003) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League 2 club Wolverhampton Wanderers. She previously played for Birmingham City.

Early life

Lily Simkin was born on 9 September 2003 in Walsall to parents Catherine and Darren.[1] She has an older brother.[2] Her father, Darren Simkin, is a former professional footballer best known for playing with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Shrewsbury Town.[3]

Simkin attended Landywood Primary School in Great Wyrley, Staffordshire.[2]

Youth career

Simkin began playing football at local club Wyrley Juniors, a sister club of Birmingham City, age 5. She played for the side in both boy's and girl's teams up to the under-12 level.[4] Simkin began playign with Birmingham City's academy when she was ten.[2]

Club career

Birmingham City, 2019–23

On 17 November 2019, Simkin, age 16, made her senior first-team debut for Birmingham City as a 62nd-minute substitute for Freya Gregory in Birmingham City's 3–0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.[5][6] She started the next match, a 6–0 defeat to eventual league champions Chelsea.[7] Simkin was released by Birmingham City in the summer of 2023.[1]

Professional career break, 2023–25

Following her release from Birmingham, Simkin has stated she successfully trialled with a Women's Championship club and was set to sign a contract. However, during a pre–season friendly, Simkin suffered an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament in which the ligament was torn from her femur. She underwent surgery on 18 October 2023.[8]

Without a club, Simkin completed part of her injury rehabilitation with Nottingham Forest.[1]

Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2025–

On 2 February 2025, Simkin joined Women's National League North side Wolverhampton Wanderers; her father had played for the club in the 1990s.[9] She made her first start for the club on 13 February 2025 during a 4–0 victory over Sporting Khalsa.[10] On 21 March 2025, Wolves announced that Simkin had suffered another ACL injury.[11] In April 2025, Simkin was one of a number of Wolves players to speak out after it was revealed that—despite coming close to winning the league—the club had chosen not to submit their application to play in the Women's Championship (now known as the Women's Super League 2).[12] [13]

Following the conclusion of the 2025–26 season, Wolves were promoted to the Women's Super League 2 (WSL 2).[14] On 5 June 2026, it was announced that Simkin would remain with Wolves to continue her injury rehabilitation.[15]

International career

Simkin represented England at the under-15 and under-17 level.[3]

Personal life

Simkin and former Birmingham City teammate Hannah Hampton are close friends.[16][17]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 January 2021.[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2019–20 FA WSL 60000060
2020–21 00000000
Career total 60000060

References

  1. 1 2 3 Berry, Paul (20 February 2025). "Simkins…Meet The Simkins | Wolves Former Players Association". Wolves Former Players Association. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Rowe, Nathan (4 April 2022). "Football star Lily Simkin pays inspirational visit to her former primary school". Express and Star. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Simkin steps up". Birmingham City Football Club.
  4. ↑ "Lily Simkin capped by England". Wyrley Juniors. 15 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Simkin adapting well to Barclays FA WSL". Birmingham City Football Club.
  6. ↑ "Brighton 3-0 Birmingham". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  7. ↑ "Birmingham 0-6 Chelsea". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  8. ↑ Whyatt, Katie (20 October 2023). "Unemployment, isolation, no insurance – the real impact of ACL injuries in women's football". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 26 July 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Wolves complete Simkin signing". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Women's report | Wolves 4-0 Sporting Khalsa". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Wolverhampton Wanderers Women [@wolveswomenfc]; (21 March 2025). "Our medical team have confirmed that Lily Simkin has suffered an ACL injury. We're devastated for you, @lilysimkin. The pack are with you all the way" – via Instagram.
  12. ↑ Sanders, Emma (28 April 2025). "Wolves Women players 'devastated' club did not apply for promotion to Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Keogh, Emily (29 April 2025). "Wolves players 'devastated' club did not apply for Women's Championship promotion". ESPN. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Women's Report | WE ARE GOING UP!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Wolves Women retained and released list". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 5 June 2026. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Levelling the Score Podcast : Lily Simkin : Wolves Women (Video). 12 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "Women's programme | Wolves vs Burnley". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Lily Simkin Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
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