{{short description|English footballer (born 2006)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Araya Dennis | image = 20241006-Araya Dennis (cropped).jpg | caption = Dennis with Tottenham Hotspur in 2024 | fullname = Araya Marilyn Roxanne Dennis<ref name="sw">{{Soccerway|araya-dennis/823692}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2006|1|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [[London]], England | height = | position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]], [[Winger (association football)|winger]], [[Defender (association football)|defender]] | currentclub = [[Tottenham Hotspur W.F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] | clubnumber = 30 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = [[Arsenal W.F.C. Academy|Arsenal]] | years1 = 2022–2023 | clubs1 = [[Arsenal W.F.C.|Arsenal]] | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2023 | clubs2 = → [[Watford W.F.C.|Watford]]<ref name="Watford-FA">{{Cite web |title=Player Season Totals {{!}} Watford {{!}} The FA Women's National League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=527355185&teamID=655229961#tab-2 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=[[The FA]]}}</ref> (dual reg) | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2023–2024 | clubs3 = → [[Crystal Palace W.F.C.|Crystal Palace]] (dual reg) | caps3 = 20 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2024– | clubs4 = [[Tottenham Hotspur W.F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2025 | clubs5 = → [[Southampton F.C. Women|Southampton]] (loan) | caps5 = 9 | goals5 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam1 = [[England women's national under-17 football team|England U17]] | nationalcaps1 = 10 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2023–2025 | nationalteam2 = [[England women's national under-19 football team|England U19]] | nationalcaps2 = 14 | nationalgoals2 = 3 | club-update = 15:26, 17 May 2026 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 22:15, 21 June 2025 (UTC)<ref name="fs">{{Flashscore|dennis-araya/rB0P9OMN}}</ref> }}
'''Araya Marilyn Roxanne Dennis''' (born 11 January 2006) is an English professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] for [[Women's Super League]] club [[Tottenham Hotspur W.F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]. A product of the [[Arsenal W.F.C. Academy|Arsenal Academy]], she previously played on loan for [[FA Women's National League|National League]] side [[Watford W.F.C.|Watford]], as well as [[Women's Super League 2]] sides [[Crystal Palace W.F.C.|Crystal Palace]] and [[Southampton F.C. Women|Southampton F.C.]] Dennis has represented England at international youth level.
== Club career == ===Arsenal and loan spells=== Dennis is a product of the [[Arsenal W.F.C. Academy|Arsenal Academy]] having scored 4 goals in 18 appearances for the academy team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Players Season Totals {{!}} Arsenal Women FC Academy {{!}} Professional Game Academy League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?divisionseason=828702513&teamID=220940824#tab-2 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=[[The FA]]}}</ref> She trained with the Arsenal first team prior to a two month spell with [[National League South]] side [[Watford F.C. Women|Watford]], under dual registration for the [[2022–23 FA Women's National League#Southern Division|2022–23 season]],<ref name=":0" /> where she featured in three games, scoring one goal.<ref name="Watford-FA"/>
On 2 September 2023, Dennis joined [[Women's Championship]] club [[Crystal Palace F.C. (Women)|Crystal Palace]] on dual registration for the [[2023–24 Women's Championship|2023–24]] season,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-02 |title=Araya Dennis joins Crystal Palace Women on dual-registration terms |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-women-araya-dennis-dual-registration/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[Crystal Palace F.C.]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=22 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240622103322/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-women-araya-dennis-dual-registration/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and scored on her debut with the club the next day in a 2–1 win against [[Birmingham City W.F.C.|Birmingham City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-04 |title=Arsenal women academy prospect scores in Crystal Palace debut! |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/arsenal-women-academy-prospect-scores-in-crystal-palace-debut-38162813 |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[OneFootball]] |language=en}}</ref> In October, she was awarded the Women's Championship Goal of the Month, for her long-range effort from 35-yards out against [[Charlton Athletic W.F.C.|Charlton Athletic]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-06 |title=Dennis wins Championship Goal of the Month for Charlton thunderbolt |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/araya-dennis-championship-goal-of-the-month-october-2023/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[Crystal Palace F.C.]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=24 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240724150718/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/araya-dennis-championship-goal-of-the-month-october-2023/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://x.com/BarclaysWC/status/1721573166601105454 |title=Absolute magic from Araya Dennis! |date=2023-11-06 |type=Video |publisher=[[Women's Championship]] |time=00:14 |quote=How about that! Araya Dennis levels on the stroke of half-time, from all of 35 yards. |via=[[X (social media)|X]]}}</ref>
=== Tottenham Hotspur === In February 2024, having played at the [[Women's football in England#Pyramid|2nd and 3rd levels]] of women's football in England, Dennis signed a two-year contract with [[Women's Super League]] club [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women|Tottenham Hotspur]] in the top tier.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Dennis joins the Club |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/february/spurs-women-dennis-joins-the-club/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.]] |language=en |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009031053/https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/february/spurs-women-dennis-joins-the-club/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 2 October 2024, she made her senior debut for Tottenham in the opening group stage match of the [[2024–25 Women's League Cup|2024–25 League Cup]] against Charlton Athletic, coming on as a 67 minute substitute.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=Dennis on her debut: "It was a proud moment and a great experience" |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/october/spurs-women-dennis-on-her-debut-it-was-a-proud-moment-and-a-great-experience/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.]] |language=en}}</ref> On 11 December, aged 18, Dennis scored her debut goal for the club in a 2–0 victory over Crystal Palace in the final group stage match,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitton |first=Alex |date=2024-12-11 |title=Crystal Palace 0-2 Tottenham: Spurs secure place in League Cup quarter-finals |url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207353-crystal-palace-0-2-tottenham-spurs-secure-place-in-league-cup-quarter-finals.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=[[VAVEL]] |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213213924/https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207353-crystal-palace-0-2-tottenham-spurs-secure-place-in-league-cup-quarter-finals.html |url-status=live }}</ref> helping Tottenham to secure a place in the quarter-finals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=🏆 Women's League Cup: Big wins for Liverpool, Leicester & Man Utd |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-league-cup-liverpool-rout-195900684.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=[[Yahoo Sports]] |publisher=[[OneFootball]] |language=en-US |archive-date=12 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212031609/https://sports.yahoo.com/womens-league-cup-liverpool-rout-195900684.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her performance was described as impressive by [[VAVEL]] and Spurs manager [[Robert Vilahamn]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitton |first=Alex |date=2024-12-11 |title=Robert Vilahamn glad Tottenham are "not Spursy" after League Cup progression |url=https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207373-robert-vilahamn-glad-tottenham-are-not-spursy-after-league-cup-progression.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=[[VAVEL]] |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213213911/https://www.vavel.com/en/football/2024/12/11/womens-football/1207373-robert-vilahamn-glad-tottenham-are-not-spursy-after-league-cup-progression.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 5 February 2026, Dennis signed a new long term contract with the club.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2026/february/women-new-contract-for-araya-dennis/|title=New contract for Araya Dennis|website=www.tottenhamhotspur.com}}</ref>
==== Southampton (loan) ==== On 10 January 2025, Dennis joined Women's Championship club [[Southampton F.C. Women|Southampton]] on loan for the remainder of the [[2024–25 Women's Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rees-Julian |first=George |date=2025-01-10 |title='Get some minutes' - Saints sign Dennis on loan from Spurs for rest of season |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24849344.southampton-fc-women-sign-dennis-loan-tottenham/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Daily Echo |language=en}}</ref>
== International career == Dennis was part of the [[England women's national under-17 football team|England under-17]] team that played in the [[2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship|2023 U17 Championship]] up until the [[2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship#Semi-finals|semi-finals]] in May, where the youth team were defeated 3–1 by [[Spain women's national under-17 football team|Spain]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-05-23 |title=Spain-England {{!}} Women's Under-17 2023 |url=https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037872--spain-vs-england/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[UEFA]] |language=en |archive-date=10 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910105927/https://www.uefa.com/womensunder17/match/2037872--spain-vs-england/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 20 September 2023, she scored her youth international debut goals for the [[England women's national under-19 football team|England under-19s]], with a brace in a friendly fixture against [[Denmark women's national under-19 football team|Denmark]] resulting in a 5–0 victory.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2023-09-20 |title=England Women U-19s beat Denmark 5-0 aided by Araya Dennis's double |url=https://shekicks.net/england-women-u-19s-beat-denmark-5-0-aided-by-araya-denniss-double/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[She Kicks]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=23 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623015409/https://shekicks.net/england-women-u-19s-beat-denmark-5-0-aided-by-araya-denniss-double/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2024, Dennis featured in the [[2024 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship|2024 UEFA Under-19 Championship]] for the under-19s, providing an assist for the final goal against Lithuania as a 70th minute substitute.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frith |first=Wilf |date=2024-07-14 |title=England Women's U-19s net ten against Lithuania |url=https://shekicks.net/england-womens-u-19s-net-ten-against-lithuania/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=[[She Kicks]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807083613/https://shekicks.net/england-womens-u-19s-net-ten-against-lithuania/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-14 |title=Dennis features in winning start for England in the Women's Under-19 Euros |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/july/spurs-women-dennis-features-in-winning-start-for-england-in-the-women-s-under-19-euros/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Tottenham Hotspur |language=en}}</ref>
For [[2025 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification|2025 U19 Championship qualification]] in November and December 2024, she featured as a defender in all first round matches against [[Turkey women's national under-19 football team|Turkey]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nicholas |date=2024-11-27 |title=Report: England WU19s 2-1 Turkiye |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Nov/27/england-womens-under-19s-turkiye-match-report-20242711 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=7 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207063940/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Nov/27/england-womens-under-19s-turkiye-match-report-20242711 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Italy women's national under-19 football team|Italy]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Veevers |first=Nicholas |date=2024-11-30 |title=Report: England WU19s 1-0 Italy |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Nov/30/england-womens-under-19s-italy-match-report-20243011 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=England Football |language=en}}</ref> and [[Poland women's national under-19 football team|Poland]]'''.'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Holly |date=2024-12-03 |title=Report: England WU19s 0-1 Poland |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Dec/03/wu19s-poland-match-report-20240312 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=England Football |language=en |archive-date=13 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213120440/https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2024/Dec/03/wu19s-poland-match-report-20240312 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Style of play == Dennis is a [[Winger (association football)|winger]] who contributes across the pitch. At the age of 17 she was described by ''Imeptus Football'' as a young talent who "displays an intelligence of the game way beyond her young age"; with the ability to easily escape tight spaces, draw opposition, and run channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=McCowen |first1=Beth |last2=Simons |first2=Liberty |date=2023-12-29 |title=A look at the prospects for Araya Dennis |url=https://impetusfootball.org/2023/12/29/a-look-at-the-prospects-for-araya-dennis/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Imeptus Football |language=en}}</ref>
Crystal Palace described the forward as a fast-paced and "attack-minded right-sided player".<ref name=":0" /> For England at youth level, she has covered at left-back from the right-wing position,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jamet |first=Sylvain |date=2023-05-15 |title=Arsenal youngster scores 2 as England beat Poland in u17 Euro opener |url=https://dailycannon.com/2023/05/england-u-17-poland/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Daily Cannon |language=en-US}}</ref> and played as a defender in the [[Squad number (association football)#England|number 2]] position.<ref name=":2" />
== Honours == {{External media |title=External video |float= |width=250 |video1=[https://x.com/BarclaysWC/status/1721573166601105454 Women's Championship October 2023 Goal of the Month], from Women's Championship via [[X (social network)|X]], 6 November 2023}}
'''Crystal Palace'''
* [[Women's Championship (England)|Women's Championship]]: [[2023–24 Women's Championship|2023–24]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-30 |title=Araya Dennis: "I'm looking forward to growing as a player" |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/june/spurs-women-araya-dennis-i-m-looking-forward-to-growing-as-a-player/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.]] |language=en |archive-date=4 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240704115737/https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2024/june/spurs-women-araya-dennis-i-m-looking-forward-to-growing-as-a-player/ |url-status=live }}</ref> '''Individual'''
* [[Women's Championship]] Goal of the Month: [[2023–24 Women's Championship#Monthly awards|October 2023]]<ref name=":3"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/teams/women/players/araya-dennis/ Araya Dennis] at Tottenham Hotspur F.C. * {{Soccerway|new_id=dennis-araya/rB0P9OMN|id=araya-dennis/823692|archive=20250602110203}}
{{Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennis, Araya}} [[Category:2006 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Footballers from London]] [[Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players]] [[Category:Watford F.C. Women players]] [[Category:FA Women's National League players]] [[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. (Women) players]] [[Category:Women's Super League 2 players]] [[Category:Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women players]] [[Category:Women's Super League players]] [[Category:Southampton F.C. Women players]] [[Category:English women's footballers]] [[Category:England women's youth international footballers]] [[Category:Women's association football defenders]] [[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]