Watford forward Baptiste to retire | OneFootball

Watford forward Bianca Baptiste is retiring from playing professional football at the age of 32.

The Golden Girls announced the player’s decision via a post on their official club X account this afternoon.

Baptiste joined Watford from Crystal Palace in summer 2022. She helped Watford win promotion to the Barclays Women’s Championship in her first season with the Hertfordshire club before making 20 appearances for The Golden Girls in the second tier this term.

After spending her youth in the Arsenal academy, Baptiste started her senior career with Enfield Town. She then spent time with Leyton Orient and QPR before enjoying a lengthy spell at Tottenham Hotspur where she helped the club climb the league pyramid. A three-year stint at Crystal Palace followed before Baptiste joined latest club Watford.

Announcing her retirement, Baptiste said “The message to my family, that means every single teammate that I have been with that has helped push me, develop me into the person that I am today; I want to thank you because it’s you guys that got me here.

“I’ve built life-long friendships and you guys have helped me every step of the way from my lows to my highs and you’ve supported me in every single way. I couldn’t have done it without you guys. I want to thank you guys because it’s you who have got me through this and I’m going to miss you all, every single one of you, from Spurs to Palace to Watford, so thank you.”

Throughout her career, Baptiste made 102 appearances in the Barclays Women’s Championship in which she scored 23 goals.