KOKOnista Of The Day: Nikita Parris Is Arguably The Most Exciting Rising Star Of Female Football

Nikita Josephine Parris is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for French Division 1 Féminine club Olympique Lyonnais and the England national team.

Nikita Parris was born in Toxteth, an inner city area of Liverpool. Parris was raised with her twin sister and two brothers by her mother, Jo, who worked three jobs to support the family.

Parris attended St. Patrick’s Primary School in Liverpool where she trained with the athletic team and dreamed of playing like Arsenal and Scottish international player Julie Fleeting. At age 6, she began playing football with boys on a grass border near her home and continued playing with boys until she was 16. Every time her mother looked out, she would see Parris slide tackling the boys or them slide tackling her.

As a youth, Parris started her own football team: “I started a football team myself at the age of eleven because I wanted to have a women’s team in the local community. So, I gathered all my friends and family and everyone I knew… and we were successful. We won the league.” Parris’ sister and two cousins also played in the team, which was called Kingsley United.

Parris was a girlhood Liverpool FC supporter. Her mother often bought her the latest kit, and she would emulate her favourite players Michael Owen, Fernando Torres and Luis Suárez. At age 10, Parris was recruited by Mo Marley, head coach of Everton. At the time, Parris did not want to leave, but later joined Everton’s Centre of Excellence at age 14.

Parris attended Bellerive FCJ Catholic College, but in September 2010 switched to Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School for her sixth form education, because it was a specialist sports college. She earned a degree in sports development from Liverpool John Moores University.

From 2018 to 2020, Parris held the record as all-time leading scorer in the Women’s Super League. With Olympique Lyonnais, Parris has won the 2019–20 UEFA Women’s Champions League, the 2020 Coupe de France Féminine (Women’s French Cup), the 2019 Trophée des Championnes, and the 2019 Women’s International Champions Cup. With Manchester City, she won the 2016 league title, the 2016 and 2018–19 Women’s Super League Cup as well as the 2016–17 and 2018–19 Women’s FA Cup.

For England, Parris helped the national team reach the semi-finals of the Euro 2017 and a fourth place finish at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Her six goals during World Cup qualification ranked first within UEFA nations and secured England’s place at the top tournament. She helped England win its first-ever SheBelieves Cup in 2019. Photo Credit: Getty