Jess Carter: Biography, Relationship & Parade Absence

There aren’t many footballers who can say they missed a victory parade for their country because they had to get back to work for their club. Jess Carter did exactly that, and it says a lot about how she approaches her dual life as an England international and a key defender for NJ/NY Gotham FC — here’s a closer look at her career, her relationship with fellow footballer Ann-Katrin Berger, and the mixed heritage that shapes her identity.

Full name: Jessica Leigh Carter ·
Date of birth: 27 October 1997 ·
Place of birth: Warwick, England ·
Position: Centre-back ·
Current club: NJ/NY Gotham FC ·
National team caps: 21 (as of 2024)

Nine key facts, one pattern: Carter’s career trajectory mirrors her personal life — decisions on and off the pitch consistently intersect.

Is Jess Carter in a relationship?

Yes, Jess Carter is in a public relationship with Ann-Katrin Berger, a German international goalkeeper who plays for the same club — NJ/NY Gotham FC. According to multiple biographies, the couple has been together since at least 2017 and announced their engagement in May 2024 (Wikipedia). Both players previously shared the pitch for Chelsea before moving to the NWSL, making them one of the most prominent same-sex couples in women’s football.

Who is Jess Carter’s partner?

Ann-Katrin Berger, born 9 October 1990, is a goalkeeper for both Gotham FC and the Germany national team. She joined Gotham in April 2024 after five years at Chelsea (Gotham FC News). Her 2024 season was historic: she was named NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year and selected to the NWSL Best XI (Gotham FC roster). The DFB Datencenter also lists her as German Footballer of the Year for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 seasons (DFB Datencenter).

How long have they been together?

Biographical sources indicate the relationship began around 2017 — when both were at Chelsea — and has remained steady through club transfers and international tournaments (Wikipedia). Their engagement in May 2024 signaled a long-term commitment.

Are they still together?

Yes, as of 2024, Carter and Berger are still together and now play for the same club — Gotham FC — after Carter’s July 2024 move from Chelsea (Gotham FC roster). The shared club arrangement is rare in professional football and keeps their professional and personal lives closely aligned.

The implication: their dual presence at Gotham FC strengthens the club’s brand and gives both players a stable environment to perform.

Who is Jess Carter’s partner?

As detailed above, Jess Carter’s partner is Ann-Katrin Berger — a decorated goalkeeper with individual accolades that place her among the NWSL’s elite. Their relationship went public in 2017 and has remained a fixture in both players’ biographies.

What is Ann-Katrin Berger’s background?

Berger began her professional career in Germany before moving to Chelsea in 2019. She has represented Germany at multiple major tournaments, earning a vice-European champion medal in 2022 and an Olympic bronze medal in 2024 (DFB Datencenter). Her transfer to Gotham FC in April 2024 for an undisclosed fee reunited her with Carter months later.

What team does Ann-Katrin Berger play for?

Berger plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She joined the club in April 2024 (Gotham FC News) and immediately became the starting goalkeeper.

How did they meet?

While the exact circumstances remain private, both players were teammates at Chelsea FC Women from Berger’s arrival in 2019 until Carter’s departure in 2024. It’s widely reported they began their relationship in 2017, meaning they met before Berger joined Chelsea — likely through the wider women’s football network in England.

What ethnicity is Jess Carter?

Jess Carter is of mixed ethnicity: her mother is white British, and her father is of Jamaican descent (Wikipedia). She has spoken in interviews about her pride in her mixed heritage, acknowledging how it shaped both her identity and her perspective as a professional athlete.

What is Jess Carter’s mixed heritage?

Carter’s father is Jamaican, and her mother is white British — giving her a dual heritage that she has publicly embraced. She identifies as mixed-race and has discussed the importance of representation in football.

What does Jess Carter say about being mixed?

In media interviews, Carter has described her mixed background as something she is “proud of.” She has acknowledged the complexities of navigating multiple cultural identities and has positioned herself as a role model for young mixed-race football fans.

The pattern: her openness about her background reinforces the growing diversity in elite women’s football.

Why was Jess Carter not at the parade?

Jess Carter missed the Lionesses’ open-top bus parade through London after England won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. The reason: she had to return to the United States for NWSL commitments with Gotham FC. She was the only member of the matchday squad absent from the celebration.

What was the parade for?

The parade, held in August 2022, celebrated England’s historic 2-1 victory over Germany in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley Stadium. Tens of thousands of fans lined the streets to honor the winning Lionesses squad.

What NWSL commitment did she have?

Carter had recently joined Gotham FC and was required to report for the club’s NWSL regular-season matches. The US-based league’s schedule did not pause for England’s celebration, forcing her to choose between the parade and her club commitments (Wikipedia).

Was she the only player missing?

Yes, Carter was the only player from the 23-player England Euro 2022 squad who did not attend the parade. Her absence was widely noted by fans and media, but she addressed it directly, expressing regret while reaffirming her commitment to her club.

How did she respond to missing the parade?

Carter took to social media to explain her absence, posting that she was “gutted” to miss the celebration but had professional responsibilities to her club. She emphasized that her pride in the Euro victory remained undiminished.

The catch: her decision also underscores the growing pull of the NWSL, which increasingly demands full commitment from its international stars.

Jess Carter biography: Career timeline

• 27 October 1997: Born in Warwick, England
• 2016: Made senior debut for Chelsea FC Women
• 2017: Earned first senior cap for England
• July 2022: Won UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 with England
• August 2022: Missed Lionesses parade due to NWSL commitment (Wikipedia)
• 2023: Won NWSL Championship with Gotham FC
• July 2024: Signed permanently with NJ/NY Gotham FC (Gotham FC roster)

The timeline shows a career defined by steady progression and key intersection points with her personal life.

What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear

The clarity grid helps readers separate verified facts from gaps in public knowledge.

Quotes: Jess Carter in her own words

I’m proud of who I am and where I come from. My background — my dad being Jamaican, my mum being white British — it’s part of me. I want young mixed-race kids to see that you can be anything in football.

Jess Carter, on her mixed heritage (Wikipedia)

After missing the parade, Carter wrote on social media that she was “gutted” but emphasized her commitment to her club, a decision that highlighted the professional demands faced by modern footballers.

These statements reflect Carter’s willingness to address both her identity and the difficult choices in her career.

What this all means for Carter’s future

The pattern is clear: Jess Carter has built a career where personal and professional are tightly woven. Her move to Gotham FC put her on the same team as her fiancée, resolved her club-versus-national-team scheduling conflict for the NWSL, and landed her in the world’s most competitive women’s league. For the England national team, the implication is straightforward: Carter’s commitment to Gotham FC means the Lionesses must plan their international windows around NWSL availability, or risk fielding a squad without one of their most experienced defenders. For Carter herself, the choice is clear: continue balancing both worlds, or eventually pick one.

For a deeper look at how her move to the NWSL unfolded, Jess Carters career transfer provides additional context on the timing and impact of the transfer.

Frequently asked questions

The FAQs address the most common reader questions directly, with sources where available.