Vivienne Theresa Upendo Lia (born 27 September 2006) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Damallsvenskan club Hammarby, on loan from Arsenal, and the England under-20s.
Lia grew up in North London, as the youngest of five siblings, and is a life-long Arsenal fan. She joined Whetstone Wanderers at the age of 10, followed by the Arsenal Women's Academy at the age of 14. Lia made 4 appearances for the academy team in the 2023âÂÂ24 season, scoring one goal.
Lia made her senior debut for Arsenal at the age of 17 on 14 February 2024 against London City Lionesses in the quarter-finals of the Women's League Cup, replacing Katie McCabe in the 82nd minute. She then made her second appearance for the Gunners in their League Cup semi-final, a 4âÂÂ0 win over Aston Villa, coming on in the 90th minute to replace Frida Maanum.
Lia started for the Gunners in their 2024 post-season 1âÂÂ0 win against A-League All-Stars Women, providing the assist for the only goal of the game, scored by fellow striker Alessia Russo. Later in the summer, Lia started in Arsenal's first pre-season match against Washington Spirit, before being replaced by Steph Catley in the 78th minute.
Lia signed her first professional contract with Arsenal on 14 January 2025.
On 18 January 2025, Women's Championship side Southampton F.C. announced that Lia had signed on loan for the remainder of the 2024âÂÂ25 season, where she went on to make 9 appearances across all competitions for the club.
On 3 September 2025, Arsenal announced that Lia would spend the 2025âÂÂ26 season on loan at Nottingham Forest. Lia made her debut for the Garibaldi Reds off the bench in the 68th minute of Nottingham's opening game of the 2025âÂÂ26 season, a 1âÂÂ2 loss against Newcastle United. Lia was recalled from her loan to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the 2026 winter transfer window, having made 12 appearances for Forest across all competitions.
On 9 February 2026, joined Swedish club Hammarby in the Damallsvenskan for the remainder of the 2025âÂÂ26 WSL season, and the beginning of the 2026 season.
Lia made her debut for Hammarby in the Svenska Cuppen, in 4 - 0 win against FC RosengÃÂ¥rd which saw Lia pick up her first assist for the club.
Lia has represented the England under-17 and under-19 national teams.
Lia received her first under-17 call-up in October 2022 for the 2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification rounds, which saw England play Ukraine, hosts Estonia, and Denmark. She scored her first goal at Under-17 level in a 10 - 0 win against Ukraine. Lia was then named in the squad for the second qualifying round, which saw England claim their place at the 2023 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship Finals but did not make the Finals squad.
Over a year after her last England call-up, Lia received her first Under-19 call-up in April 2024. Named by head coach John Griffiths for the second round of the under-19 Championship qualification, she helped the youth team qualify for the finals of the 2024 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship. Lia then featured in the squad for the finals of the 2024 European Championship, in which England were knocked out in the semi-finals by Spain.
Lia was selected for both round one and round two of qualifying for the 2025 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship, scoring three goals in the second round to help England qualify for the Finals tournament. In February 2025, she was again called up to the under-19 squad, alongside Saints teammates Araya Dennis and Laila Harbert, for the Albir Garden Tournament. In June 2025, new manager Lauren Smith announced her squad for the finals of the 2025 European Under-19 Championship in Poland, with Lia's name down as one of 6 young Arsenal players.
Named as a injury replacement for Lauren Smith's England Under-20 squad, Lia made her debut for the Under-20s in a 2-1 win against China PR. She then scored her first goal for the Under-20 Young Lionesses just 6 days later in a 2-3 win over Mexico.
A speedy and skillful winger, she is versatile and can also play at right-back when required. Lia describes herself as "quite direct and creative".