Wikipedia

Lily Agg

Lily Maria Phoebe Agg (born 17 December 1993) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, But is without a club since her departure from Birmingham City.

Lily Agg
Personal information
Full name Lily Maria Phoebe Agg[1]
Date of birth (1993-12-17) 17 December 1993 (age 32)
Place of birth Brighton, England
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Position Midfielder
Youth career
Eastbourne Borough
Polegate Grasshoppers
Brighton & Hove Albion
2010–2012 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 Brighton & Hove Albion 26 (7)
2014 London Bees 0 (0)
2014–2016 Millwall Lionesses 22 (6)
2016 Brighton & Hove Albion
2016 Cardiff Met 0 (0)
2017 Bristol City 3 (1)
2017–2018 Frankfurt 13 (1)
2018–2019 Charlton Athletic 19 (7)
2019–2023 London City Lionesses 36 (4)
2023–2026 Birmingham City 16 (7)
2026 → Durham (on loan) 4 (1)
International career‡
2022– Republic of Ireland 22 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 May 2026

Agg studied at the University of Brighton and has got a teaching degree.[2] Alongside her football career, Agg also currently works as a Sports Lecturer at Academy 1 Sports in Essex.[3]

Early life

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Agg grew up in Eastbourne with her mother Ruth and three siblings including Poppy Agg. She attended Bishop Bell School and began playing youth football for Eastbourne Borough when she was five years old, before joining Polegate Grasshoppers when she was 11.[4] Afterwards, Agg earned trials with Chelsea and Arsenal and would end up joining the latter.[5]

Club career

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Arsenal

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After moving away from her home in the South East, Agg joined the Arsenal W.F.C. Academy. She did manage to get into the first team squad, but made only a handful of appearances.[6] She declined the offer of a full-time contract from Arsenal, preferring to prioritise her university studies.[7]

Brighton & Hove Albion

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Agg started her professional career back at her hometown club, Brighton & Hove Albion, which she had initially joined at the Under 12's level in Brighton Centre's of Excellence before moving to Arsenal.[8]

London Bees

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In January 2014 Agg left Brighton & Hove Albion, in order to play at a higher level.[9] She returned to London, joining the London Bees for a short period. She scored the club's first ever goal in their 3–1 FA Women's Cup win over Leeds United.[10]

Millwall Lionesses

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She left the Bees after a very short spell to join the Millwall Lionesses for a season. She made a promising start, as the club's joint-leading goal scorer for 2014, and extended her contract for another year at the end of the campaign.[11]

Return to Brighton & Hove Albion

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After a two-year period away, Lily rejoined her hometown club in 2015. During this spell she helped the club gain promotion, after winning the FA Women's Premier League Championship Play Off.[12]

Cardiff Metropolitan Ladies F.C.

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Agg played for Cardiff Met. Ladies F.C., including during their 2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign,[2] where she scored both goals in Cardiff's 3–2 loss to Spartak Subotica.[13]

Bristol City

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Agg moved to Women's Super League side Bristol City in January 2017.[2] She paused her teaching career in order to join her new club on a full-time basis.[14] Making the move to England's top division is something that she has described as one of her greater career achievements.[8] She made only three appearances, with one start, and scored one goal.[15]

FFC Frankfurt

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In August 2017, Agg moved to the Frauen-Bundesliga to join FFC Frankfurt, after a successful trial.[16] At the time, she was the only British player play in Germany and it was seen to be a step up in her career.[17][18] FFC Frankfurt had won seven Frauen-Bundesligas, eight German Cups and the Champions League on four occasions.[17] Agg enjoyed playing in Germany, praising the professionalism of the club and the competitiveness of the Frauen-Bundesliga.[19] In her only season in Germany, the club managed an average 6th-placed finish. However, Agg struggled for game time, making only 13 appearances, with nine of them involving her coming on as a substitute. Her only goal came in a league defeat to Freiburg.[15]

Charlton

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After a short stint in Germany, Agg joined Charlton for what was their inaugural season in the Championship. She made a total of six appearances and scored on two occasions on her return to English football.[citation needed]

London City Lionesses

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Agg subsequently joined Championship club London City Lionesses, ahead of the 2019–20 season. However, due to suffering a fractured tibia against Reading in a pre-season friendly, she missed the entirety of her debut season at the club.[8]

She returned to action in the 2020–21 season against Sheffield United. In total, she made eleven appearances that season, being rewarded with three player of the match awards netting her one and only goal against champions Leicester.[8]

Following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season season, Agg left London City Lionesses.[20]

Birmingham City

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On 19 August 2023, Birmingham City announced they had signed Agg on a one-year deal.[21] On 27 May 2024, she signed a new one year contract, with the option of a one year extension, with the club.[22] Agg underwent surgery following an ACL injury in the 2024–25 season.[23] As a result of the surgery, Agg also received a melanoma in situ cancer diagnosis.[24] On 8 July 2025, it was announced that the club had exercised an extension clause in Agg's contract to keep her with the club during the 2025–26 season.[23]

On 3 February 2026, Agg joined Durham on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.[25]

She Scored her first goal her first goal for Durham on the 29 of March two minutes later she came off injured, The next day she was called up to Carla Ward's squad for World Cup qualifiers double header against Poland. A few days later Agg announced on social media she had suffered an Achilles injury meaning she would be out of the Ireland squad and out for the rest of the season she stated on Social media,[26]

"An ACL is unlucky enough. To fight your way back from that and then rupture your achilles on the other leg makes you question everything," wrote the 32-year-old.

"Two of the worst injuries you can have. I keep asking myself what I ever did to deserve this. Why me? Why now?

"People close to me keep saying I’ll come back stronger again. If I’m being honest, right now I genuinely don’t know if I will come back at all.

"I’ll be another year older. I’m 32 now, out of contract in June, with an ACL and an achilles rupture behind me in the last two years.

"I’m not naive. The game is changing, and I know I’ll be a risk many won’t want to take a chance on.

"My heart is broken and my head hurts.

"To everyone who has believed in me, supported me and valued me as a player and person. Thank you it has meant more than you will ever know."

International career

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On 19 June 2022, Agg made her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in a friendly against the Philippines in Antalya, Turkey.[27] She marked the occasion by scoring the only goal in Ireland's 1–0 win.[28] Agg had previously represented England up to under-19 level, but changed her allegiance to Ireland after an approach from the team's coach Vera Pauw. Agg was eligible for Ireland due to her grandmother Breda Greene being from County Cork, but the process of obtaining citizenship and switching her football eligibility proved to be protracted, delayed several times by injury and the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland.[29]

On 1 September 2022 Agg was named player of the match in Ireland's 1–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A win over Finland at Tallaght Stadium. She entered play as a first-half substitute for the injured Ruesha Littlejohn then headed the winning goal, which secured Ireland's place in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA play-offs.[30] She had an injury scare in the lead up to the 2023 World Cup as she sustained an ankle ligaments injury in training in late March 2023, but she recovered in time to be part of the squad for the tournament.[31][32]

Agg was set to make her return to the national team following her ACL injury with a call-up to Ireland's World Cup 2027 qualifying matches against Poland in April 2026,[33] but sustained an Achilles rupture in early April and was withdrawn from selection.[24][34]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2022 62
2023 51
Total113
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first. Score column indicates score after each Agg goal. Updated as of 24 September 2023.
International goals scored by Lily Agg
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 1 19 June 2022Bellis Hotel Sports Center, Antalya, Turkey Philippines 1–0 1–0 Friendly[35]
2 3 1 September 2022Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Finland 1–0 1–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification[36]
3 12 24 September 2023Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Northern Ireland 3–0 3–0 2023-24 UEFA Women's Nations League[37]

References

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  1. ↑ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/08/2018 and 31/08/2018". The FA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Swift, Chris (2 February 2017). "Women's football Keynsham set for 'biggest game in six years'". Bristol Post. p. 41. ProQuest 1863831160.
  3. ↑ Agg, Lily. "Lily Agg linkedin".
  4. ↑ "Schoolgirl Lily's football dream could slip away if funding not found". Eastbourne Herald. 10 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  5. ↑ Kelly, David (16 July 2023). "Lily Agg: Driven by the love of place and the strength of those who came before". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Former Arsenal Women striker Lily Agg signs for 1. FFC Frankfurt". LadyArse/Daily Cannon. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Lily Agg (ST/CAM)". Ignite Talent. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Coombes, Cassie. "Lily Agg | London City Lionesses". Lionesses. Archived from the original on 20 June 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Hilsum, James (19 January 2014). "Agg Moves On". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Newly-formed women's club London Bees defeated Leeds United 3–1 in the Women's FA Cup". Times series (north London). 24 February 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Millwall tie down top scorer". Women's Soccer Scene. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Weston, Matthew; Drust, Barry; Gregson, Warren (March 2011). "Intensities of exercise during match-play in FA Premier League referees and players". Journal of Sports Sciences. 29 (5): 527–532. doi:10.1080/02640414.2010.543914. ISSN 0264-0414. PMID 21294032. S2CID 37554696.
  13. ↑ "Spartak Subotica-Cardiff Met – UEFA Women's Champions League". UEFA. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Dunn, Carrie (15 February 2017). "Bristol City's Lily Agg quits the classroom for full-time football". Shoot (football magazine). Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Lily Agg – Soccer player profile & career statistics – Global Sports Archive". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "Engländerin Agg stürmt nun für den FFC" (in German). Transfermarkt. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  17. 1 2 Jamet, Sylvain (9 August 2017). "Former Arsenal Women striker Lily Agg signs for 1. FFC Frankfurt". Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  18. ↑ Frith, Wilf (9 August 2017). "Lily Agg Becomes 1. FFC Frankfurt's Final Addition". She Kicks. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Garry, Tom (6 February 2018). "Phil Neville: Why England Women boss has Bayern and Juventus on his radar". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  20. ↑ Kelly, David (13 July 2023). "Lily Agg not rushing to find new club after London City Lionesses exit, who she claims are 'a bit of a shambles'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  21. ↑ "Lily Agg joins Blues Women!". Birmingham City Football Club. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Lily Agg signs new deal". www.bcfc.com.
  23. 1 2 "Lily Agg extends stay at Blues". www.bcfc.com. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  24. 1 2 "Lily Agg's 'heart is broken' after cruel injury setback". RTÉ Sport. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  25. ↑ "Lily Agg joins Durham on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  26. ↑ "Agg's 'heart is broken' after cruel injury setback". 4 April 2026. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. ↑ @FAIreland (19 June 2022). "WNT LINE-UP | 🇮🇪 v 🇵🇭 🟢 @LilyAgg8 makes debut 🟢 @StephanieRoche9 gets nod up front 🟢 @Katie_McCabe11 leads as captain 🏟 Bellis Sports Centre, Antalya, Turkey ⏰ KO 16:00 (18:00 local time) 💻 LIVE 👉 https://youtube.com/watch?v=iqkwq4sDas4 #COYGIG | #WeAreOne | #OUTBELIEVE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ "Agg marks her Irish debut with winner in tough battle". Irish Independent. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  29. ↑ Hannigan, Mary (7 April 2022). "Lily Agg expects Ireland debut to be 'really emotional' after long wait". Irish Times. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  30. ↑ O'Brien, Brendan (3 September 2022). "Lily Agg an overnight star years in the making". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  31. ↑ Harpur, Charlotte (29 April 2023). "Lily Agg: 'Getting injured ahead of the World Cup is everyone's worst nightmare'". The Athletic. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  32. ↑ Kelly, David (15 July 2023). "Lily Agg: Driven by the love of place and the strength of those who came before". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  33. ↑ McCann, Lauren (30 March 2026). "Bohs' Brennan earns first Republic of Ireland call-up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  34. ↑ "Reynolds receives first Republic of Ireland call-up". BBC Sport. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  35. ↑ "WNT 1–0 Philippines". FAI. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  36. ↑ "WNT 1–0 Finland". FAI. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  37. ↑ "WNT 3–0 Northern Ireland". FAI. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
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