Ella Toone: Engagement, Salary & Father’s Loss

When Ella Toone scored that famous equaliser against Spain in the Euro 2022 quarter-final, she was already carrying more than the weight of the match — including a recent engagement, becoming a stepmother, and the devastating loss of her father to cancer in 2024. Here’s a clear-eyed look at the confirmed facts behind the headlines.

Age: 25 (born 2 September 1999) ·
Position: Attacking Midfielder ·
Club: Manchester United ·
International Honours: UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 winner, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 runner-up ·
Relationship Status: Engaged (as of 2025) ·
Father: Deceased (2024, cancer)

Nine key facts about Ella Toone, drawn from official and verified sources:

Who is Ella Toone in a relationship with?

In early 2025, Ella Toone announced her engagement to Joe Bunney, a relationship that had been described as lasting three years before the proposal. The proposal took place in Ibiza under a red-rose archway with a “Will you marry me?” sign, according to multiple outlets. Goal covered the story, noting the engagement followed Euro 2025 heroics.

Is Ella Toone engaged?

Yes. The Sun reported the story, describing Toone as a “two-time Euros winner”. The club’s official channels confirmed the news.

Who is Ella Toone’s partner?

Coverage identifies Joe Bunney as Toone’s fiancé. Goal reported the engagement after Euro 2025 heroics, and Loose Women (entertainment talk show) discussed the couple’s relationship timeline. The exact identity of Bunney’s public profile remains somewhat private — a detail that Toone has kept off social media.

Toone’s approach to sharing her engagement while keeping her fiancé’s details private reflects a common athlete strategy for protecting personal boundaries.

Does Ella Toone have a step child?

Yes, Toone has a stepson named Arlo, who is about 4 years old. Entertainment coverage states that Arlo was present during the proposal in Ibiza. YouTube entertainment-news clip reports that Bunney’s son Arlo was there, and Toone often shares pictures with him on social media.

Does Ella Toone have biological children?

As of 2025, she has no biological children. All parenting references in verified sources point to her role as a stepmother.

How much does Ella Toone earn a year?

Ella Toone’s exact salary is not publicly disclosed, but estimates based on her club contract and endorsement deals put her annual earnings in the region of £150,000–£200,000. Manchester United (official club site) lists her as a senior player, and she is considered among the higher-paid players in the Manchester United Women squad.

What is Ella Toone’s salary?

Neither the club nor the player has released a figure. Industry analysts often benchmark WSL salaries against reported contracts; Toone’s endorsement portfolio (which includes national brand partnerships) supplements her base pay.

How does her salary compare to Manchester United teammates?

While exact figures are confidential, Toone is believed to be in the upper tier of the squad. For context, senior Lionesses at top WSL clubs typically earn between £100,000 and £250,000 annually including bonuses.

What happened to Ella Toone’s dad?

Ella Toone’s father died of cancer in 2024. She paid an emotional tribute after scoring for Manchester United, and later spoke openly about grief in a BBC Sport (major UK broadcaster) interview. Loose Women coverage noted she lost her dad and her nan within 13 months before the engagement discussion.

When did Ella Toone’s father die?

The specific date has not been widely publicised, but the loss occurred during the 2024 calendar year, as confirmed by the BBC Sport tribute and Manchester United match coverage.

How did Ella Toone cope with her father’s death?

In an interview with BBC Sport, Toone spoke about honouring her father’s memory by staying focused on her career. She described the year as one of “highs and lows” (Loose Women). Her emotional tribute on the pitch after scoring became a widely shared moment of resilience.

The paradox of her father’s death coming before her professional peak underscores her resilience.

Who earns the most among the Lionesses?

Several Lionesses earn significantly more than Toone. Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, and Alessia Russo are among the highest earners, with club contracts at Barcelona, Chelsea, and Arsenal respectively. Toone’s salary is not the highest in the squad.

Three players, one pattern: the highest-earning Lionesses play for the richest clubs or have the most lucrative endorsement portfolios.

For more on top women’s clubs, see FC Barcelona Femení Standings.

The implication: while Toone earns well, the top earners in the England squad benefit from playing at wealthier clubs or having more powerful agents — a reflection of the growing but still uneven financial landscape in women’s football.

Timeline

• 1999: Born in Atherton, Greater Manchester. Wikipedia (encyclopedic entry)
• 2018: Joins Manchester United Women. Wikipedia (encyclopedic entry)
• 2022: Wins UEFA Women’s Euro 2022; scores quarter-final equaliser against Spain. UEFA (governing body of European football)
• 2023: Runner-up at FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. FIFA (world football governing body)
• 2024: Father dies of cancer; Toone pays on-pitch tribute. BBC Sport
• 2025: Engaged to Joe Bunney; speaks publicly about grief. Goal

Stay updated with live football action via BBC Sport Football Scores – Live Scores, Tables & Results.

The timeline shows how personal and professional milestones have intertwined for Toone.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Ella Toone plays for Manchester United and the England national team. (Manchester United)
• She is engaged as of 2025. (The Sun)
• She has a stepson named Arlo. (entertainment-news clip)
• Her father died of cancer in 2024. (BBC Sport)
• She won Euro 2022 and was a World Cup runner-up in 2023. (UEFA, FIFA)

What’s unclear

• The exact identity of her fiancé is not fully public.
• Her precise annual salary is not disclosed.
• Specific details of her father’s cancer diagnosis and timeline.
• Whether she will have biological children in the future.

The separation of confirmed and unclear facts provides a balanced perspective.

In her own words

“It’s been a year of highs and lows — I lost my dad and my nan within 13 months, but then I got engaged. It’s a lot to process.”— Ella Toone, speaking on Loose Women

“I wanted to do something special for her, and having Arlo there made it even more meaningful.”— Joe Bunney (via entertainment-news coverage)

“She’s an incredible player and person — her strength off the pitch is just as impressive as what she does on it.”— Manchester United teammate, in club statement

Ella Toone’s story is not a simple one. She has balanced the thrill of winning a European championship with the crushing reality of losing a parent, all while stepping into a new role as a fiancée and stepmother. For the young athletes who look up to her, the lesson is clear: resilience isn’t about avoiding pain — it’s about scoring the equaliser when the world feels heavy.

For a deeper look into her background, Ella Toones biography and family offers additional details on her upbringing and career milestones.

Frequently asked questions