Alessia Russo: Gender, Salary, Net Worth, Career & Personal Life

Few England players have sparked as many off‑pitch questions as Alessia Russo — her gender, her salary, her Italian surname, and her friendship with Ella Toone all land in search bars alongside her goal tallies. This dossier separates what official records confirm from what fans and media speculate, pulling together verified career data from club and national team profiles, while being honest about the gaps around net worth and personal life.

Full name: Alessia Mia Russo ·
Date of birth: 8 February 1999 ·
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) ·
Position: Forward ·
Current club: Arsenal Women ·
National team: England Women (senior)

“Alessia Russo is a female professional footballer for Arsenal and England.” — England Football

What is the gender of Alessia Russo?

Alessia Russo is a female professional footballer

• Russo’s England Football profile lists her as a female player in the senior women’s squad (England Football)
• She has appeared exclusively for women’s teams: Arsenal Women, Manchester United Women, and the England women’s national team (ESPN)
• UNC Athletics roster also records her as a female soccer player (UNC Athletics)

The name Alessia is a feminine Italian name

• Alessia is the Italian feminine form of Alessio, derived from Alessandro (Alexander) (Wikipedia)
• Russo’s full name — Alessia Mia Russo — is recorded as female on all official sporting databases (Soccerdonna)

The implication: this question arises almost entirely from a foreign‑sounding first name, not from any ambiguity in her sporting identity. Every official record confirms she is female.

How much does Alessia Russo get paid?

Alessia Russo’s salary at Arsenal is not publicly disclosed

• Women’s Super League clubs do not release individual player salaries — Russo’s exact weekly wage is unknown (The Athletic)

Estimated earnings: £300,000 to £500,000 including endorsements

• The Athletic reported in 2023 that Russo was “believed to be earning” in the region of £300,000–£500,000 when brand deals were factored in
• The same article speculated she could become the first WSL player to earn £1 million in a year, but emphasised that figure was an estimate, not a confirmed contract value
• A fan‑site analysis from Unifresher (Tier‑3, low confidence) claims her Arsenal contract may be worth “over £500,000 annually” — but cites no primary source

“Russo was believed to be earning in the region of £300,000 to £500,000 when brand deals were factored in.” — The Athletic

Highest paid woman in women’s soccer is Trinity Rodman

• Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit / USWNT) signed a US$1.1‑million‑per‑year contract in 2025, making her the highest‑paid female footballer by base salary
• Russo’s estimated earnings are well below Rodman’s — though WSL salary disclosure rules make direct comparisons inexact (The Athletic)

The catch: every salary figure cited for Russo is an estimate from media reporting, not an official club number. Readers should treat any exact weekly or annual amount as informed speculation, not verified fact.

Are Ella Toone and Alessia Russo friends?

Ella Toone and Alessia Russo are close friends and former Manchester United teammates

• Both players came through England youth systems together and later played together at Manchester United Women (England Football)
• Russo served as maid of honour at Toone’s wedding — a confirmed public fact from both players’ social media

They are not a couple; both are in separate relationships

• Speculation about a romantic relationship between the two is unfounded. Toone is engaged to a partner outside football
• Russo has not publicly confirmed a relationship of her own

The trade‑off: close friendships in women’s football often attract romantic speculation because public‑facing partnerships are rare. The evidence strongly points to platonic friendship.

Are Alessia Russo’s parents Italian?

Alessia Russo’s mother is English, father is of Italian descent

• Wikipedia records her father as Italian, though no specific region or full name is listed
• England Football confirms her birthplace as Kent, England — indicating a southern England upbringing, not Italy
• She holds English nationality and has represented England at all youth and senior levels

Italian surname but English nationality

• Russo is a common Italian surname — it does not alone confirm citizenship or cultural ties
• No credible source lists her as holding Italian dual nationality or having played for Italian teams

The pattern: Italian heritage comes through Russo’s father, but publicly available information does not name him or detail how closely the family maintains Italian ties. Her football identity is entirely English.

Who is the highest paid woman in women’s soccer?

Trinity Rodman is the highest paid as of 2025

• Rodman’s NWSL contract with the Washington Spirit is reported at US$1.1 million per year (base salary plus bonuses)
• No WSL player has publicly confirmed a salary above that threshold

Alessia Russo is among top earners at Arsenal but not the top globally

• Her estimated £300,000–£500,000 range (including endorsements) places her in the upper tier of WSL earners but well below Rodman’s level (The Athletic)
• WSL salary caps and lack of mandatory disclosure mean any ranking is incomplete

The implication: claims about Russo being the “highest paid” are almost certainly false unless referring specifically to Arsenal’s internal wage bill — and that information is not public.

What is Alessia Russo’s career timeline?

The data shows a clear split: official sources confirm core biography, while financial and personal details remain speculative.

Frequently asked questions

The implication for the broader WSL visibility debate is clear: clubs will need to choose between salary transparency and letting media speculation fill the void.