Safia Middleton-Patel, aged 20, plays for Manchester United’s women’s first team and represents Wales’ national team. The goalkeeper has made five international appearances and has featured for the Red Devils making her debut against Newcastle United, back in 2024.
Her mother is Welsh, and her father is Indian, making her part of a very small group of top-flight footballers from South Asian heritage.
The Welsh international signed for Manchester United back in 2020, making the move from rivals Liverpool. Three years later, Safia signed a professional contract with the club, making her the 10th player to go through the academy to then pen a professional contract with the club.
After featuring for the Man United first team, she then spent loan spells at Blackburn Rovers, Leicester City, Coventry City and Watford. One month after signing her first professional contract, Safia then made her debut for Wales against the Philippines, keeping a clean sheet and seeing her side win 1-0. Before the start of the Women’s Super League season in August, the goalkeeper penned a contract extension to keep her contracted with United until 2028.
Safia used the power of social media to open up about her diagnosis with Autistic Spectrum Condition, conducting interviews to help share her inspiring story to becoming a professional footballer.
She has spoken about the troubles she faces in day to day life and her story aims to help others who struggle in similar aspects of life as her too.
“If I go into a shop, I have to make sure they have self-service, and at petrol stations I have to make sure they’re self-service and I don’t have to go inside.” Safia said to Sky Sports.
The goalkeeper is often spotted wearing sunglasses before matches, as she is sensitive to bright lights and wearing sunglasses helps to reduce sensitivity for her. Through her openness about her diagnosis, she can have her teammates and staff members help her through different things put in place. This can help make Safia as comfortable as possible and help her prepare for a match to the best level possible.
Often she has been spotted in team meetings wearing sunglasses or headphones, but her teammates and coaches understand that she is not being rude, but it is a way of her feeling the most comfortable.
The Manchester United doctor helped to spot out key symptoms that helped her receive a diagnosis. Safia said: “I had a proper sit-down conversation with the doctor and we went through my symptoms to help get a diagnosis.”
Although she has challenges in her way, the young shot-stopper does not let that get in the way of her shining for both club and country. She is regularly with the women’s first team for matches and it feels like it is just a matter of time before she becomes a frequent starter for her club. In comparison to her national team position, she has featured regularly for the Welsh team, playing at the Euros tournament just gone.
