Erin Jacqueline Cuthbert (; born 19 July 1998) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Chelsea in the Women's Super League and is a member of the Scotland national team. She studied at University of the West of Scotland, combining graduation from the Open University with being a professional football player.
Cuthbert started her football career at her local boys' club, which is coached by her dad. She also spent time playing for Crosshouse Boys Club, before moving to Rangers in 2010. She made her Scottish Women's Premier League debut in September 2013 and was named the league's Young Player of the Year for the 2014 season. She transferred to Glasgow City in January 2015 and was part of the City team that won the domestic treble in 2015 then retained the SWPL title in 2016, though lost in both cup finals to Hibernian.
On 8 December 2016, Cuthbert left Glasgow City to join Women's Super League club Chelsea. On 19 March 2017, she made her debut for the Blues in a 7âÂÂ0 win over Doncaster Rovers Belles in the fifth round of the Women's FA Cup. On 30 April 2017, she made her league debut and scored the team's fourth goal in a 6âÂÂ0 home victory against Yeovil Town. She finished her first season with 4 goals and 2 assists in 7 appearances in all competitions. On 15 November 2017, Cuthbert made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut for the Blues in a 1âÂÂ0 win over FC RosengÃÂ¥rd. On 4 February 2018, she scored her first hat-trick for the club in a 10âÂÂ0 victory against London Bees in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup.
Cuthbert was nominated for the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award in the 2018âÂÂ19 season. During that season, she scored in Champions League ties with Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon.
Cuthbert signed a new contract with Chelsea in November 2022, which is due to run until the end of the 2024âÂÂ25 season. She scored two goals in the 3âÂÂ1 win against BK Häcken in the 2023âÂÂ24 Champions League, bringing Chelsea to the top of their group. She scored in the 1âÂÂ0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of the semi-finals.
In March 2025, Cuthbert signed a new contract with Chelsea, until the end of the 2026âÂÂ27 season. On 4 May 2025, Cuthbert won the club's Women's Player of the Season award for the 2024-25 season, earning the award for the second time.
Cuthbert represented Scotland at school-girl level, under 15, under 17, and under 19 level. In August 2013, she took part with the U-17 national team in her home country in the first qualifying round for the 2014 Under-17 European Championship and scored the last goal in a 5âÂÂ1 win against Montenegro. After another 5âÂÂ1 win over Northern Ireland, they lost 4âÂÂ0 to the Czech Republic but finished runners-up in the qualifying round. They went on to qualify for the finals as elite round group winners. At the end of November and beginning of December 2013, she also took part in the early finals in England. There, however, they could only win a point in a goalless draw against eventual finalists Spain. They lost 4âÂÂ2 to eventual winner Germany and 1âÂÂ0 to France in the last game. In October 2014, she then took part with the team in Croatia in the first round of qualifying for the 2015 U-17 European Championship, which she came through with three wins, contributing a goal in each game. In the second round in Poland in March 2015, they beat the hosts and Slovakia but lost the third crucial game against France 3âÂÂ1 and were fourth-best runners-up.
In September 2015, she took part with the U-19 team in the first qualifying round in Austria for the 2016 Under-19 European Championship. After beating Ukraine 3âÂÂ2 and Albania 4âÂÂ2, they won the decisive match against the hosts 2âÂÂ1, scoring the winning goal. In the second round in April 2016 in Portugal they could only win the first game against Greece 1âÂÂ0. After a 1âÂÂ1 draw against the hosts, they still had a chance of reaching the finals by beating France, but lost 2âÂÂ0 and were eliminated as third in the group. In September 2016, she made a fresh start with the team in the first qualifying round in Albania for the 2017 Under-19 European Championship. After beating the hosts 11âÂÂ0, in which she scored five goals, and beating Cyprus 8âÂÂ0, nine Scottish players fell ill with gastrointestinal problems and were unable to play in the final game against Serbia. Despite Scotland and the Scotland Football Association requesting a postponement, UEFA subsequently ruled that Scotland forfeited the game, and lost 0âÂÂ3 against Serbia, but they still reached the second round as the second-best runners-up. This took place in Ireland in April 2017 and with three wins the Scots reached the finals to be held in Northern Ireland in August. Cuthbert scored the winning goal from penalties in both 2âÂÂ1 wins against Ireland and Finland and two goals in the 5âÂÂ0 win against Ukraine, giving her a total of ten goals in both qualifying rounds. However, she was not nominated for the finals.
Cuthbert made her senior debut on 7 June 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute for Rachel Corsie in a 1âÂÂ0 win over Belarus in qualifying for Euro 2017. She scored her first senior international goal in her third international match on 20 January 2017, in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Denmark during a training camp in Cyprus. In March 2017, she then took part with the team at the 2017 Cyprus Cup, where she came to two starts.
In May 2017, she was called up to the Scotland squad to compete in the nation's first European Championship finals, and she was the youngest player in the squad. She came on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of the 6âÂÂ0 defeat by England. In the second game against Portugal, she came on as a substitute in the second half and scored Scotland's first European Championship goal at the 67th minute to equalise. Portugal took the lead again four minutes later, and that was enough for Scotland to lose their second match in a row. Despite the two defeats, they still had a chance to reach the quarter-finals by winning by two goals in the last game against Spain, with England beating Portugal at the same time. England was able to win their game against Portugal, and despite Scotland managing to get a win over Spain with a goal from Caroline Weir, it wasn't enough to qualify for the next round. Cuthbert started the match against Spain a played the full match.
Cuthbert was one of seven Scots to play all eight games in qualifying for the 2019 World Cup. She was the team's top scorer with four goals, along with Jane Ross. Scotland qualified for the World Cup for the first time, where, as at the European Championship, they met England in their opening game.
On 15 May 2019, she was selected for the World Cup. At the World Cup, she played in the three group games. After losing 2âÂÂ1 to England and Japan, Cuthbert scored for Scotland in the final group match with Argentina, firing Scotland into a 3âÂÂ0 lead. Scotland then concede three goals, including the decisive third goal in the fourth minute of added time from a retaken penalty kick. As a result, the Scots were eliminated after the group stage.
In the subsequent failed qualification for the Euro 2022, Cuthbert had seven appearances and scored three goals. In the first five games of the 2023 World Cup qualifiers, she was ever-present and scored two goals. In April 2024, she was awarded the SFWA Women's International Player of the Year for her performance in the national team.
On 10 February 2026, it was announced that Cuthbert had been appointed as permanent vice-captain, alongside Caroline Weir as captain, by Scotland's head coach Melissa Andreatta.
Glasgow City
Chelsea
Individual
In July 2023, Cuthbert was given an honorary doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland.