Super Falcons midfield star Toni Payne has left Everton and joined Inter Milan on a two-year deal.
Inter announced the signing in a statement released on their official website on Saturday.
“Internazionale Milano announces the arrival of Antionette Oyedupe “Toni” Payne at the Nerazzurri. The Nigerian striker, born in 1995, has signed a contract with the Club until June 30, 2028.
“Born on April 22, 1995, in Birmingham, Alabama, to Nigerian parents, Antionette Oyedupe “Toni” Payne began playing as a child with her sisters Stephen and Nicole, with whom she would later play for the Nigerian national team.
“Her career as a striker began with an internship offered by Ajax, which brought her to Europe in 2017. After a year in the Netherlands, she moved to Sevilla, where she made 168 appearances and scored 30 goals from 2018 to 2024 before joining Everton.
After her experience with the U.S. U17 national team, Payne chose to play for Nigeria, where she made her debut in 2021.”
Payne was named in the Super Falcons 25-player squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) that will hold in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August.
Also Read: WAFCON 2026: Plumptre Laments Absence From Super Falcons Squad
This would be her third WAFCON appearance after featuring at the 2023 and 2024 editions, helping the Super Falcons to win a 10th title in the latter.
The Super Falcons are in Group C alongside Malawi, Egypt and Zambia and will be based in Rabat for their fixtures.
Before the 2018–19 season, Inter only had women’s youth teams. On 23 October 2018, the club acquired the sporting rights from A.S.D. Femminile Inter Milano, creating its first senior women’s team in over a century.
In Inter’s first season in 2018–19 Serie B, Inter earned promotion to Serie A finishing with 64 points from 21 wins and just one draw.
In November 2023, the team moved to the historic Arena Civica, previously home of the men’s team from 1930 to 1947.
On 19 April 2025, Inter qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the 2025-2026 season for the first time, defeating Roma 3–0.
By James Agberebi
