Manchester United and England footballer Ella Toone has won the Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award at the This Is Manchester Awards.

The 27-year-old was recognised at the ceremony in her home city for her contribution to football on and off the pitch. Toone, who was included in BusinessCloud's 2026 Northern Leaders list, spoke of her pride and that of her family after collecting the award, which was presented to her by Emma Fletcher, her old coach.

Toone's impact extends well beyond her performances for club and country. She founded the ET7 Academy to create more opportunities for the next generation of female footballers, giving young girls a pathway into the game. She is also an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK following the death of her father, using her profile to raise awareness of a disease that affects so many families.

The award recognises a player who has become one of the most recognisable faces in English football. Toone has been a central figure for Manchester United Women and for England, and her work away from the pitch — building chances for young girls and campaigning for a health charity close to her heart — has made her a role model for supporters well beyond the stadium.

Speaking after the ceremony, Toone said it was a massive honour to win the award and that it was nice to be recognised in Manchester, the city where her football journey began. The honour adds to a growing list of recognition for a player whose influence on the women's game in England continues to grow, both through what she does with a ball at her feet and what she does for others off the field.

[Source: businesscloud.co.uk](https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/ella-toone-honoured-for-outstanding-contribution-to-sport/) | [Source: manutd.com](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/man-utd-ella-toone-reveals-pride-from-this-is-manchester-awards-recognition)