THREE Lionesses are on course to become England’s first female football millionaires.
Toni Duggan, Millie Bright and Ellen White will all pocket bumper payouts as a result of the team’s success in the Women’s World Cup in France.
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And if England — who face a semi-final clash against the USA on Tuesday — go on to win the tournament, a string of lucrative endorsement deals will follow.
Striker Toni, 27, plays for wealthy Barcelona and is already paid by Nike to endorse their clothing.
As well as driving a Mercedes — part of a sponsorship package — she recently landed a Lucozade deal and is one of the branded faces of EA Sports computer games.
With more than 340,000 Instagram followers, the ex-Manchester City star is England’s most popular player. Her account is filled with luxury holidays, first-class travel, designer gear and pics with such icons of the game as Lionel Messi.
‘MILLIONAIRES CLUB’
Liverpudlian Toni recently holidayed in Los Angeles, staying at the Beverly Wilshire — a favourite with Joan Collins and Piers Morgan — where rooms cost upwards of £450 a night.
And last year she posted pictures of a trip to Dubai with boyfriend Tony, when they stayed at reality- star favourite Five Palm Jumeirah.
Toni’s break into the “millionaires’ club” comes 40 years after Trevor Francis became Britain’s first £1million player when he joined Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City.
All the England players will receive a £50,000 bonus if they win the World Cup next Sunday.
But Millie, 25, and Ellen, 30 — who has already scored five goals in France — will also receive a staggering six-figure pay-out from their sponsors, Adidas.
SPONSORSHIP VALUES SOARING
Defender Millie is signed to wealthy Chelsea and posts photos of herself enjoying the high life, often with her nephew.
Manchester City forward Ellen, who has another sponsorship deal with Soccer Supplement, also enjoys luxury holidays with her husband Callum Convery, including one to Disneyland Orlando in March.
But with the nation gripped by England’s success and a record 7.6million fans watching the team’s quarter-final win against Norway on Thursday, experts say ALL the players’ sponsorship values are soaring. Talent agent Jonathan Shalit said last night: “The Lionesses’ value is collectively, as a unit.
“People have fallen in love with their incredible team spirit, their passion and their obvious love for each other and the game.
“Unlike the greed and negativity that surrounds much of the men’s game, these players are inspiring a nation — and brands want to be attached to this.
“If they win the World Cup, their commercial value is endless — I can see franchises like M&S, John Lewis or Asda using the squad to promote campaigns. The Lionesses are a marketing dream.”
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Mums are on the ball
THE Lionesses have acquired a fan base unusual in football – mums.
A writer on Women’s Football website Girls On The Ball said: “The Lionesses have done something no other football team have been able to do – they’ve got my mother interested.”
Another fan tweeted: “My mum is 84. She is loving the Women’s World Cup.” Others have said their mums are so enamoured by the World Cup that they are now planning to go and watch their local ladies team play.
Ellie Dickson posted the day after England hammered Norway 3-0: “My mum doesn’t really like football but she’s been walking round the house singing ‘Lucy Bronze, do do do do’ to the tune of Baby Shark.”
