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Arsenal’s Heather O’Reilly has today joined five other stars of women’s football in committing to Common Goal, a growing movement in which players pledge to donate at least 1% of their wages to football charities.

On an historic day for the initiative, three-time USWNT Olympic Gold Medallist Heather joined Olga García (FC Barcelona), Vero Boquete (Paris Saint-Germain), Pauline Bremer (Manchester City), Jean Sseninde (Crystal Palace) and Nicole Regnier (América de Cali) in making the pledge— the largest ever cohort of players to join together.

The announcement comes less than a week after Common Goal unveiled its first Turkish member in Fenerbahçe’s Hasan Ali Kaldirim, as well as its first English members in Swansea’s Alfie Mawson and Bournemouth’s Charlie Daniels. Through Sseninde (Uganda) and Regnier (Colombia), the movement now boasts its first African and South American players as well.

“Today’s announcement serves as yet another example of the power football has to bring people together,” said Heather, who has a longstanding track record of supporting football charities such as America Scores and Right to Play.

“What we have here is a mix of players from around the world, with a wide range of backgrounds, each with her own unique story, but each with a passion to give back.

“Through a shared love of football, we’ve now come together behind this collective vision to use the game as a force for good.”

Juan Mata, who became the first player to make the pledge in August this year, was full of praise for his new teammates. “I think we can say Common Goal has gone truly global today,” said the Manchester United midfielder.

“To welcome six players from five countries and four continents, all with the courage to drive forward the movement in their respective regions of the world, is a proud moment for myself and the rest of the team.”

Common Goal’s newest female members join USWNT players Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, who also made the pledge last month.

“I see this as a landmark moment for Common Goal,” said Morgan. “The fact that we’ve seen six players from all over the world come together behind a shared vision of the game speaks volumes to the what we’re looking to achieve.

“I’m thrilled to welcome them to the team and look forward to announcing many more in the near future.”

Common Goal

Common Goal is a creation of streetfootballworld, the international leader in football for good. Over the past 15 years, the organisation has assembled a global network of more 120 local charities that use football as a tool to tackle social issues ranging from gender equality in India to peacebuilding in Colombia to refugee integration in Germany.

streetfootballworld will support Common Goal’s members by aligning their donations with football charities that generate the greatest impact around the world.

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