Heather Margaret Payne is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward and has been a senior international for the Republic of Ireland women’s national team since 2018. She has featured in club football in Ireland, England and the United States and represented her country at major tournaments including the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
She started playing football at the age of eight in a small local club with boys, following her older brother.
She played Gaelic football and did swimming growing up.
She also ran cross country and did rugby and athletics.
She mentioned never having a female footballer to look up to and would like to be an inspiration for young girls.
She looked up to boxer Katie Taylor growing up.
One of her biggest achievements was playing with Ireland at the 2023 World Cup.
She graduated from Florida State University in Dietetics.
| Puma Football |
| NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship | 1× |
| Year | Club | AP | GL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2025
-
present
|
Leicester City | 9 | 0 |
|
2023
-
2025
|
Everton | 42 | 1 |
|
2019
-
2023
|
Florida State Seminoles | 60 | 6 |
|
2018
-
2019
|
Bristol City | 12 | 0 |
|
2016
-
2018
|
Peamount United | 37 | 15 |
| International Stats | |||
|
2017
-
present
|
Ireland | 44 | 2 |
|
2018
-
2019
|
Ireland U19 | 6 | 5 |
|
2015
-
2017
|
Ireland U17 | 6 | 0 |