Naomi Powell Bio
Naomi Powell (born January 10, 1999) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder. After developing in the youth system of Orlando City SC and starring collegiately for the NC State Wolfpack, she launched her professional career in the United Kingdom. She later returned to the United States to join the National Women’s Soccer League.
Standing 5 feet 4 inches tall, Powell built her reputation as a creative, set-piece-minded midfielder across the English and Scottish football pyramids. Her professional journey has taken her from the FA Women’s National League North to the Scottish Women’s Premier League and, most recently, to the NWSL.
Early Life and Background
Naomi Powell was born on January 10, 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina, and grew up there as an American with strong ties to English football. She is one of two children raised by her mother, Elise Powell, and her father, Darren Powell, an English soccer coach. Her father’s background in coaching helped shape her early understanding of the game and laid the foundation for her development as a midfielder.
During her formative years, Powell played club soccer for Orlando City SC’s Elite Clubs National League squad, where her performances were strong enough to earn her a place on the 2015 ECNL interregional All-Star team. She also turned out for the Carolina Rapids, contributing to a youth division title during her time with the club.
Path to Professional Soccer
After completing her youth career, Powell enrolled at North Carolina State University, where she joined the NC State Wolfpack women’s soccer program from 2017 to 2021. In her freshman season, she appeared in 11 games, recording an assist in her collegiate debut against Oregon on August 17, 2017, and finishing the year with three assists, the highest single-season total of her college career. She did not play in 2018, then returned to feature in 10 more appearances across her final two seasons, including her one and only career start, a 47-minute outing against Boston College in April 2021.
Her time at NC State, combined with the discipline instilled by her ECNL experience, prepared her for the demands of professional soccer abroad. Powell signed her first professional contract with English third-tier side Nottingham Forest in July 2021, choosing to remain in England to continue her studies at the University of Nottingham while pursuing her playing career.
Naomi Powell Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Powell joined Nottingham Forest of the FA Women’s National League North on July 2, 2021, stepping into English football immediately after her final college season. In her debut campaign, she helped Forest reach the fourth round of the FA Women’s League Cup, including a goal during a second-round victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, before the team was eliminated by Manchester City. Across her three seasons at the City Ground, she accumulated 60 appearances for the club.
In her final year with Forest, Powell played a central role in a successful 2022–23 campaign, helping the side lift the FA Women’s National League Cup and the FA WNL North title. Forest subsequently faced Watford in a promotion playoff to the Women’s Championship, but the result did not go their way, leaving the club in the English third tier.
Nottingham Forest Breakthrough (2021–2023)
Although Forest competed in the third tier of English women’s football, Powell treated every match as an opportunity to grow. Her contributions in the FA Women’s League Cup, including a notable goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers, gave her valuable experience in high-stakes cup football. Those moments helped her adjust to the physical and tactical demands of senior competition.
By her third season, Powell was firmly established as a key midfielder, combining creative passing with reliable set-piece delivery. The double-winning 2022–23 season represented her most decorated stretch at the club and cemented her reputation as a winner in English football’s lower divisions.
Hibernian Era (2023–2024)
On July 29, 2023, Powell signed a one-year contract with Hibernian, a club competing in the Scottish Women’s Premier League first division. She wasted little time introducing herself to the Hibernian faithful, scoring a free kick in her second appearance of the season in a victory over Montrose. That goal foreshadowed what would become her most productive professional season as a playmaker.
Across her lone campaign at Easter Road, Powell tallied 10 assists, many of which originated from set-piece situations, demonstrating her eye for delivering the ball into dangerous areas. Her creativity helped Hibernian secure a fifth-place finish in the table, matching the club’s position from the previous season.
Heart of Midlothian Era (2024–2025)
In July 2024, Powell made the short move across Edinburgh, joining Hibernian’s rivals Heart of Midlothian on a two-year deal. Operating in the same attacking midfield role, she contributed 2 goals in 14 Scottish Women’s Premier League appearances during the 2024–25 season. Despite having signed a two-year contract, her tenure with Hearts lasted only one year, and her official departure was announced on June 5, 2025.
Portland Thorns FC Era (2025)
Powell returned to the United States on July 23, 2025, signing a short-term contract with NWSL club Portland Thorns FC. The Thorns extended her deal one month later, keeping her with the team through the remainder of the 2025 season. Although she was part of the squad during a competitive stretch of the campaign, Powell did not make a competitive appearance for the club before her contract expired and she departed Portland.
Driving Style and Strengths
Powell’s game revolves around her vision and execution from set pieces, a strength that became a trademark during her time in Scotland. She combines sharp passing range with disciplined positioning, allowing her to function effectively as a link between midfield and attack. Her ability to deliver accurate dead balls and create chances for teammates has defined her most productive stretches at every club she has represented.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Powell’s signature moments are her goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Women’s League Cup, her free-kick strike for Hibernian against Montrose, and her role in Nottingham Forest’s FA Women’s National League Cup and WNL North double in 2022–23. Reaching 60 appearances for Forest and producing 10 assists in a single SWPL season stand as the most prominent statistical milestones of her club career to date.
Naomi Powell Career Wins
Although Naomi Powell has yet to lift an individual award, her résumé features team silverware earned at Nottingham Forest. Her professional trophy cabinet reflects a steady climb from England’s third tier to the Scottish top flight and, eventually, the NWSL.
Club Honors
Powell was a key contributor to Nottingham Forest’s 2022–23 FA Women’s National League Cup title and the club’s FA WNL North championship that same season. Those two trophies represent the senior team honors verified by her career record. Her other stops, including Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian, and Portland Thorns FC, did not produce additional team titles during her time with those clubs.
Other Performances
Beyond her trophy-winning campaign with Forest, Powell posted a personal-best 10 assists during her single season at Hibernian, establishing herself as one of the most effective creators in the SWPL that year. She also helped the Carolina Rapids capture a youth division title earlier in her playing days, foreshadowing her comfort in winning environments.
Naomi Powell Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Powell was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, by her mother, Elise Powell, and her father, Darren Powell, an English soccer coach whose profession influenced her introduction to the sport. The family’s blend of American upbringing and English football heritage gave Naomi an early and detailed understanding of the game, helping shape her development into a professional midfielder.
Personal Life
Powell is one of two children in her family. While continuing her professional career abroad, she also pursued higher education, enrolling at the University of Nottingham to study after leaving NC State. Publicly available details about her marital status and personal relationships beyond her immediate family have not been confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Naomi Powell, beginning with her departure from Heart of Midlothian on June 5, 2025, after just one year of her two-year contract. The split cleared the path for her return to American soccer, culminating in her move to Portland Thorns FC on July 23, 2025.
With the Thorns, Powell signed a short-term agreement that was later extended through the end of the 2025 NWSL season. Although she was part of the squad during a key stretch of the campaign, she did not make a competitive appearance before her contract expired.
Heading into the remainder of 2025, Powell’s situation remained fluid following her departure from Portland. With her professional track record spanning England’s third tier, the Scottish top flight, and the NWSL, she entered the next phase of her career as an experienced midfielder seeking a new club where she could contribute on the field.