Nikayla Small
|
Small in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nikayla Desiree Small | ||
| Date of birth | March 24, 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | AFC Toronto | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Pickering FC | |||
| NDC Ontario | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2024 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 60 | (4) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | NDC Ontario | 10 | (1) |
| 2024 | Eagle FC | 8 | (3) |
| 2025– | AFC Toronto | 9 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2018 | Canada U15 | 4 | (1) |
| 2022 | Canada U20 | 4 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of June 14, 2025 | |||
Nikayla Desiree Small (born March 24, 2003) is a Canadian soccer player who plays for AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League.
Early life
Small began playing youth soccer at age four with Pickering FC.[1] She later joined the NDC Ontario program.[2]
College career
In 2021, Small began attending Wake Forest University, where she played for the women's soccer team.[3] On August 29, 2021, she scored her first collegiate goal in a victory over the Youngstown State Penguins.[4] At the end of her first season, she was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team.[5] She missed the entire 2022 season due to injury.[6]
Club career
In 2022, Small played with NDC Ontario in League1 Ontario.[7]
In 2024, she played with Eagle FC in the USL W League.[8]
In January 2025, she signed a professional contract with AFC Toronto in the Northern Super League.[9][10] On June 11, 2025, she scored her first goal in a 3-2 victory over Vancouver Rise FC.[11] On June 14, 2025, she scored a brace in a 2-1 victory over Calgary Wild FC.[12] She was named the league's Player of the Month for June 2025.[13]
International career
In August 2018, Small was called up for the first time to the Canada national program with the Canada U15 for the 2018 CONCACAF Girls' U-15 Championship.[1] She was named to the tournament Best XI.[14] She later was called up to camps with the Canada U17 and represented the Canada U20 at both the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship and the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[1]
In October 2021, she was called up to the Canada senior team for the first time for a training camp and a set of friendlies.[15][16]
References
- ^ a b c Nikayla Small at the Canadian Soccer Association
- ^ Mayne, Aimi (January 23, 2023). "A pro-level women's soccer team in Toronto would be a game-changer: U-20 player". Toronto Observer.
- ^ "Nikayla Small Wake Forest profile". Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
- ^ "Wake Forest Downs Penguins, 5-0". Wake Forest Demon Deacons. August 29, 2021.
- ^ "Smart, Small Garner 2021 All-ACC Honors". Wake Forest Demon Deacons. November 4, 2021.
- ^ "Small Thriving On and Off the Pitch as a Wake Forest Student Athlete". Wake Forest Demon Deacons. July 19, 2024.
- ^ "Nikayla Small 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Eagle FC Women Wake Forest Small". Eagle FC. February 2, 2024.
- ^ Elhilali, Rania (January 27, 2025). "AFC Toronto Announces Canadian Midfielder Nikayla Small". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Canadian Midfielder Nikayla Small Joins AFC Toronto". AFC Toronto. January 27, 2025.
- ^ "Nikayla Small scores, AFC Toronto edges Vancouver Rise 3-2". Toronto Star. June 11, 2025.
- ^ "Nikayla Small's brace leads AFC Toronto to win over Calgary Wild". CBC Sports. June 14, 2025.
- ^ ""All 10 Toes Planted": Nikayla Small Named Player of the Month for June". AFC Toronto. July 4, 2025.
- ^ "Wake Forest Announces the Addition of 16 Newcomers". Wake Forest Demon Deacons. July 12, 2021.
- ^ Del Metro, Chris (October 14, 2021). "News: Nikayla Small Called Up To Canadian National Team As Training Player". Blogger So Dear.
- ^ "Small Invited to Join Canadian Women's National Team on Celebration Tour". Wake Forest Demon Deacons. October 12, 2021.