England defender Anouk Denton has left West Ham United and signed for NWSL side Bay FC.
“Bay FC is an ambitious club with a clear vision, and it felt like the right place for the next step in my career,” Denton said in quotes circulated to the media.
She explained that working with Bay’s head coach Emma Coates – who previously coached in the England youth set-up – was a big attraction.
“The NWSL is the most competitive league in the world, and I’m excited to challenge myself against top players and teams,” she added.
“Having worked with Emma before gives me confidence in the environment I’m stepping into, and I’m really looking forward to living in the Bay Area and playing in front of such passionate supporters.”
For her part, Coates added: “I’m really pleased to welcome Anouk to Bay. She’s someone I have worked with before, so I know exactly what she brings. Anouk is the type of person and player we want at this club. She is professional, hardworking, and driven. She brings valuable experience at the top level from her time in the WSL, and what’s exciting is that there’s still room for her to grow.
“She also adds quality, depth and versatility to our back line with her ability to play on both the right and the left. I’m excited for the fans to see her in action.”
Anouk Denton – her career so far
Denton came through Arsenal’s academy before joining West Ham on loan in 2021, and then heading to the USA for college, where she represented the University of Louisville Cardinals. She then signed for West Ham in January 2023.
Internationally, Denton has represented England’s youth national teams at under-17, under-19, and under-23 level, where she played under Coates. She featured at the 2022 Under-19 European Championship, where she was coached by now-Bay FC assistant Gemma Davies. She got her first senior call-up in October 2025 before recording her first cap later in the year as a substitute in England’s 2-0 win over Ghana in December.
