Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nicole Oyeyemisi Payne[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 18 January 2001||
Place of birth | Birmingham, Alabama, United States[2] | ||
Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[3] | ||
Position(s) | Defender[2] | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Portland Thorns (on loan from Paris Saint-Germain) | ||
Youth career | |||
Oak Mountain Eagles | |||
Concorde Fire | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019–2021 | West Virginia Mountaineers | 53 | (4) |
2022 | USC Trojans | 16 | (3) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | Paris Saint-Germain | 2 | (0) |
2024– | → Portland Thorns (loan) | 1 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2017 | United States U17 | 1 | (0) |
2018 | United States U19 | 1 | (0) |
2021– | Nigeria | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 March 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 June 2021[4] |
Nicole Oyeyemisi Payne (born 18 January 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for NWSL club Portland Thorns on loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Born in the United States, she represents the Nigeria national team.
Payne was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama,[3] attending Oak Mountain High School there.
Payne attended West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia[3] for three years, transferring to the University of Southern California for her fourth and final year.
Payne signed with Paris Saint-Germain of France's Division 1 Féminine in July 2023.[5] Her first appearance (of four to date[6]) for PSG came as a substitute in a 5-2 win over Dijon FCO on 12 November 2023,[7] with her first start on 20 January 2024 in an 8-1 win over FC Girondins de Bordeaux.[8]
In February 2024 she was loaned to the Portland Thorns of the National Women's Soccer League for the 2024 season.[8]
Payne made her senior debut for Nigeria on 10 June 2021 as a 90th-minute substitute in a 0–1 friendly loss to Jamaica.[9]
Payne is the younger sister of fellow footballers Toni Payne and Stephen Payne.[10] She and her sister Toni have played together in the Nigeria women's national team.[9]