Melissa Elizabeth Lawley (born 28 April 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League 2 club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
She has previously played for Bristol Academy, Birmingham City, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Everton. Lawley has represented England at the under-17, under-19, under-20, under-23 and senior levels.
Club career Lawley made her senior debut for Arsenal in their 6–0 Champions League win against FK Bobruichanka on 5 October 2011. Lawley signed for Birmingham City in 2013 from Bristol Academy. In January 2016, Lawley signed a new contract with Birmingham. In December 2016, she signed for Manchester City.
On 15 June 2019, Liverpool announced they had signed Lawley ahead of the 2019–20 season.
In the 2023–24 home game against Tottenham Hotspur, Lawley provided the assist for Marie Höbinger, equalizing 1–1 in the 91st minute.
After departing Liverpool at the end of her contract, Lawley signed for Everton on 25 July 2024.
On 24 July 2025, Burnley F.C. announced that Lawley would be joining them on loan from Everton for the 2025-26 season, which saw Lawley join back up with former Liverpool manager Matt Beard. On 10 January 2026, she returned to Everton after being recalled from her loan spell. On 26 June 2026, it was announced that she would leave Everton when her contract expired.
On 26 June 2026, Lawley was announced at Wolves.
International career Lawley was allotted 199 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural international.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague cupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsArsenal2011Women's Super League0000001010Bristol Academy2012Women's Super League121??40—161Birmingham City2013Women's Super League134??30—1642014Women's Super League120??40722322015Women's Super League141??61—2022016Women's Super League151??41—192Total667??212729411Manchester City2017Women's Super League5141—301222017–18Women's Super League1303050712812018–19Women's Super League40104020110Total2218190121513Liverpool2019–20Women's Super League1412031—1922020–21Championship1931030—2332021–22Championship2121030—2522022–23Women's Super League1301040—1802023–24Women's Super League1713130—232Total84781161001089Everton2024–25Women's Super League1702020—2102025–26Women's Super League502000—70Total220402000280Burnley (loan)2025–26FA Women's National League8410——94Career total2142021252320330728
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsEngland201731201880201910Total121
Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lawley goal. + List of international goals scored by Melissa LawleyNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition128 November 2017Colchester Community Stadium, Colchester, England1–05–02019 FIFA World Cup qualification
Honours Manchester City FA Women's Cup: 2016–17
Liverpool FC FA Women's Championship: 2021-22
References
External links
Profile at the Everton F.C. (women) website Melissa Lawley at the Football Association website