Jessica Stapleton

Jessica Stapleton is a promising young center-back currently showcasing her defensive talents at Nottingham Forest in the Women's Championship. At just 21 years old, Stapleton is already making significant strides on the field with her exemplary defensive prowess and leadership abilities. Hailing from Ireland, she brings a keen sense of defensive positioning and tenacity to her role, as evidenced by her impressive interception stats. In the 2023 season, Stapleton has appeared in nine games, accumulating a total of 689 minutes on the pitch. Her defensive attributes are further highlighted by her possession-adjusted interceptions, which stand at an impressive 6.54 per game. This solid defensive foundation identifies her as a key asset for her team.

Stapleton contributes more than just defensive solidity, though her offensive numbers like goals and assists per game stay at zero, her playmaking abilities are notable with a Playmaker Rank of 2.5. Her ability to move the ball forward is demonstrated by her progressive passing, averaging an impressive 423.96 meters per game. Additionally, her progressive carrying distance of 53.96 meters per game indicates her effectiveness in transitioning play from the defensive to attacking phases. Despite her focus on defense, she manages an xG (expected goals) of 0.15 per game and takes on average 0.29 shots per game, reflecting her willingness to support her team in goal-scoring opportunities. With a high challenge success rate of 68% and an estimated transfer value of €184K, Jessica Stapleton epitomizes the archetype of a Defending Leader, and her performances continue to underscore her rising profile in women's football.