Toni Payne excited about joining Inter Milan

Inter Milan confirmed the signing of Nigerian star Toni Payne on Saturday. She signed a two-year contract that will keep her at the club until June 2028.

Toni Payne has moved to the Italian Serie A Femminile team after leaving Everton in the Women’s Super League when her contract ended. She had a successful time at Everton, making 50 appearances after joining from Sevilla in Spain in 2024.

Now, at 31 years old, Payne starts a new journey in Italy with an Inter team that wants to win trophies and make an impact in Europe.

After the transfer, Payne shared her excitement about joining one of Italy’s top clubs. She called this move a major milestone in her career.

“I’m really excited to be signing for Inter. There’s so much history at the club, and I’m really happy to be a part of it,” Payne said on the club’s website.

“It means so much to me. I’m in a different phase of my career. I’m really excited to be joining such a competitive league and a competitive team that is striving for great things.”

Toni Payne was born in Birmingham, Alabama, to Nigerian parents. She started her professional career in Europe with Ajax in 2017 and moved to Sevilla a year later.

In Spain, she had six strong seasons, becoming one of Liga F’s most reliable attacking midfielders. She played over 180 matches and scored 30 goals before moving to Everton.

Payne represented the United States at youth levels but chose to play for Nigeria in 2021. She has since become a key player for the Super Falcons.

She has played at major events like the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games. Recently, she was selected for Justine Madugu’s squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Payne believes her style fits well with Italian football. She is eager to make an immediate impact at Inter Milan.

“The league is very competitive. I think I have a couple of qualities that I can demonstrate here, so I’m excited to do that in the upcoming seasons.”

“I think I have a lot of speed; I like to dribble a lot and put in good crosses. I really hope those qualities can help Inter a lot, and I’m eager to get started.”

Her signing adds to the number of Nigerian players in Italy’s top women’s league. Rinsola Babajide and Shukurat Oladipo are already making waves there.

For Toni Payne, joining Inter Milan means more than just switching clubs. It is a chance to take on new challenges, compete for big trophies, and continue her impressive journey in European football while being an important player for the Super Falcons.