Jessica Wade (footballer)

Jessica Wade
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-04-11) 11 April 2003
Place of birth Alberton, South Africa
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Åland United
Youth career
2014– JVW Girls
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
–2021 University of Johannesburg
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Maccabi Haifa
2024–2024 JVW
2025– Åland United
International career
2015–2018 South Africa U17 (10)
2021–2023 South Africa U20
2025– South Africa 1
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Jessica Wade (born 11 April 2003) is a South African soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Kansallinen Liiga club Åland United and the South Africa women's national team.

Club career

JVW

Wade joined JVW Girls Academy as an 11-year old. By age 16 she was playing in the Sasol League and was part of the squad that lifted the 2019 Sasol League title.[1]

University of Johannesburg

Wade played for the University of Johannesburg in 2021 before an injury ended her season prematurely.[2]

Maccabi Emek Hefer

In June 2022 she signed with Israeli First League side Maccabi Haifa F.C..[3]

JVW

In 2024 she re-joined the Blue Diamonds in the SAFA Women's League.

Åland United

In December 2025 she signed with Kansallinen Liiga club Åland United on a two year deal.[4]

Youth international career

She competed with the South Africa under-17 team at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup and captained the team that finished as runners-up at the 2019 COSAFA U-17 Women's Championship.[5][6] She won the best player award and scored 5 goals in the tournament. She also scored 5 goals at the 2020 edition when the side finished in third.[7]

In 2021 she competed for the South Africa under-20 team in the 2022 African U-20 Women's World Cup qualification where they were knockout out in the third round by Uganda.[2][8]

International career

Wade was called up for the senior women's team in a friendly match against Morocco on 2 December 2025 coming on in the 30th minute to replace captain Refiloe Jane.[9]

Honours

South Africa

JVW

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Jessica Wade". JVW. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  2. ^ a b Tshifura, Lutendo (2021-09-14). "UJ Women's Football Team players, Wade and Mohale, called for international duty - University of Johannesburg News". Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  3. ^ Abrahams, Celine (2022-06-22). "Jessica Wade Broadens Horizons in Israel". gsport4girls. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  4. ^ "Jessica Wade looking forward to new Aland United journey | soccer". SABC. 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  5. ^ "Jessica Wade is destined for great things - Bantwana coach Simphiwe Dludlu | Goal.com". Archived from the original on 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  6. ^ Abrahams, Celine (2020-05-11). "Wade on Course to Becoming SA's Next Best Footballer". gsport4girls. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  7. ^ "Scoring queens at the COSAFA Girls' Under-17 Championship". COSAFA | The Council of Southern Africa Football Associations. 2025-12-02. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  8. ^ Content, Print (2020-01-16). "Jessica Wade from Alberton, made to squad to take on Zambia in the first round". Southern Courier. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  9. ^ CentreCircle (2025-12-03). "It's always been my dream to play in Europe – Jessica Wade". Centre Circle. Retrieved 2025-12-03.