Emma Louise Lawton (born 26 July 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right back for Women's Super League 2 club Ipswich Town and for the Scotland women's national team.
Her previous clubs include Partick Thistle (two spells) and Motherwell.
Club career Raised in East Kilbride, Lawton played for Celtic as a youth player but joined Partick Thistle aged 15, immediately participating at senior level albeit in the SWFL First Division South (the regionalised amateur third tier); she helped Partick gain promotion to the Scottish Women's Premier League-2 in 2018. In late 2019 she joined Manchester City, although only featured for the English club's development side in a spell which was also interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July 2022, Lawton returned to Scotland and signed for SWPL-1 team Motherwell,Emma Lawton Joins Motherwell FC, Motherwell FC, 2 July 2022 where she spent one season before re-joining Partick Thistle, now also members of the top tier.Emma Lawton Returns To PTWFC, Partick Thistle FC, 7 July 2023Partick Thistle ace returns to 'make more history' in SWPL, Paul Thomson, Daily Record, 14 July 2023 During the 2023–24 season, Partick reached their first major final – losing 4–1 to Rangers in the SWPL Cup – and finished in the league's top six, with Lawton named in the PFA Scotland SWPL Team of the YearRangers most featured in SWPL team of the year, BBC Sport, 21 April 2024 and as the club's Player of the Year.Emma Lawton Signs For Celtic, Partick Thistle FC, 12 September 2024 She agreed a new contract with Partick and began the following campaign with the Jags, but joined Celtic on a full-time contract on 12 September 2024 (transfer deadline day) along with Motherwell's Morgan Cross.Celtic swoop on rivals for deadline day double transfer, BBC Sport, 12 September 2024Celtic return 'a humbling moment' for East Kilbride star after academy days, Paul Thomson, Daily Record, 23 September 2024Emma Lawton, Celtic FC She quickly impressed with performances in the SWPL and the UEFA Women's Champions League.Lawton living the 'surreal' dream, Amy Canavan, BBC Sport, 27 September 2024
On 26 June 2026, Celtic announced that Lawton was leaving the club after making 71 appearances and scoring 15 goals.
On 15 July 2026, Lawton was announced at Ipswich Town.
International career Lawton was selected for the Scotland under-23 team, which plays only friendly matches, in 2023 and 2024.Emma Lawton, FlashScore. Retrieved 6 January 2025
She received her first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in February 2025,Scotland Women's squad: Interim boss Michael McArdle makes 10 changes in first squad with six uncapped players included, Sahil Jaidka, Sky Sports, 6 February 2025 making her debut as a starter in a 1–0 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League defeat away to Austria,Scotland beaten by Austria in McArdle’s first game in interim charge, STV News, 21 February 2025 and scoring her first international goal four days later in a 2–1 loss to the Netherlands at Hampden Park.Scotland 1–2 Netherlands, BBC Sport, 25 February 2025
Personal life Lawton has studied and trained as a sports coach, achieving a BA in Football Coaching and Management from the UCFB in 2022, and holding a UEFA B licence by 2024.
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