Erica Meg Parkinson (born 18 April 2008), also known as Erica Parkinson or Erica Meg, is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Born in Singapore, she has been called up to represent England on the international stage. Parkinson began her professional career with Portuguese club Valadares Gaia at age 15 in 2023.
Early life Parkinson was born on 18 April 2008 in Singapore to a Japanese mother and English father. She has a brother, Denis Parkinson, who is also a footballer. Her father, Richard, is a fan of Manchester United: Parkinson is named after Eric Cantona, and her brother after Denis Law.
Parkinson attended an international school in Singapore, and speaks four languages (English, Japanese, Portuguese, and French). The family moved to Portugal in 2018, primarily due to her brother being scouted to play in the academy at Porto.
Youth career While in Singapore, Parkinson played for JSSL Singapore. Having moved to Portugal in 2018, Parkinson, age ten, played in the seven-a-side U-11 team at FC Foz. She then joined their main academy team during the 2019–20 season, spending the season with the U-13 team.
In 2020, Parkinson moved to Leixões and began with the U-13 team before moving to the U-15 team in 2021. During the 2022–23 II Divisão Sub-15 season, she made eleven appearances and scored twice, scoring both during the 9–0 victory against Macedo de Cavaleiros U15 on 4 June 2023. She also represented Leixões at U-16 level. Parkinson was also associated with the first team in the 2022–23 Campeonato Nacional II Divisão Feminino.
Club career
Early career: Leixões and Benfica In early 2023, aged 14, Parkinson was given a senior shirt number for Leixões but did not make any appearances for the team, leaving at the age of 15 in May 2023. Parkinson also spent time with Benfica.
Valadares Gaia Parkinson joined Valadares Gaia in July 2023 and made her debut for the senior team at the age of 15 as an 85th-minute substitute during the 3–0 victory against Damaiense in the Taça de Portugal on 3 August 2023. Her league debut came in the 2–0 loss against Braga on 17 August 2023 and she scored on her first start for the club during the 2–2 draw (later lost on penalties) against Braga in the Taça da Liga on 5 October 2023. On 2 February 2024, she scored her first league goal in the 2–0 victory against FC Famalicão.
Parkinson was permanently moved up to the senior squad on 3 May 2024 at the age of 16. She then reached the 2024–25 Taça da Liga semi-finals and won the 2024–25 AF Porto Taça. She was voted the best young player in the 2024-2025 league season by members of the Portuguese football players' union.
North Carolina Courage
On 1 July 2026, Parkinson joined National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) club North Carolina Courage, signing a four-year contract with the option for an additional year. She made her NWSL debut on 18 July, coming on as a halftime substitute for Felicitas Rauch in a 3–0 away loss to Bay FC.
International career
Parkinson is eligible to play for four countries: Japan, through her mother; England, through her father; Singapore, her birth country; and Portugal, where the family moved in 2018. Parkinson has stated that she chose England as a youth player because it was the first country to invite her to a national training centre.
Parkinson made five appearances for England's U-16 side. With England U-17, she played at the 2024 Women's Under-17 Euro and 2024 U-17 Women's World Cup. In the same year, she was selected for the U-19 squad, playing at the European Championships, before receiving a call-up for the U-23 squad in 2025. She made her U-23 debut at the age of 17.
In March 2026, still aged 17, she received her first call-up to the England senior squad ahead of 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Spain and Iceland.
Parkinson was called up to represent England's under-20 national team at the 2026 U-20 World Cup, but withdrew on the eve of the competition to remain with the North Carolina Courage.
Personal life Since the age of 12, Parkinson has worked with a mindset coach.
Career statistics
+Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueTaça de PortugalTaça da LigaAF Porto TaçaTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeixões2022–23Campeonato Nacional II Divisão Feminino00———00Valadares Gaia2023–24Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino1702041002312024–25Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino1735130202742025–26Campeonato Nacional de Futebol Feminino154106110235Career total49781132307310
Honours Valadares Gaia
Taça AF Porto: 2024–25; 2025–26
Individual SJPF (players' union) Campeonato Nacional Feminino Best Young Player: 2024–25 Record Campeonato Nacional Feminino Revelation of the Year: 2025–26
References
External links