Izzy Christiansen was born Isobel Mary Christiansen on 20 September 1991 in Macclesfield, Cheshire. Her father, Niels Christiansen, was born in Herefordshire and has Danish family roots — a connection she’s spoken about in relation to England fixtures against Denmark. She has said her sister first inspired her to play football.

She came through Manchester United’s youth system before moving to Everton, then had her breakthrough at Birmingham City. She joined Manchester City in 2014, winning the FA WSL Continental Cup that year, before a move to French giants Lyon in 2018, where she won the treble (league, cup, and Champions League) in her first season.

She returned to Everton in December 2019 on an 18-month deal, playing there until her retirement from professional football in May 2023 after a 15-year career, which she announced on the podcast Three Players and a Podcast.

While studying sports science at the University of Birmingham, she captained the university’s women’s football team; she has also said she once considered becoming a teacher. She made her senior England debut in 2015 and represented her country at multiple tournaments.

Since retiring, Izzy has built a broadcasting career with Sky Sports and BBC Radio 5 Live, working as a pundit and commentator on Women’s Super League coverage alongside Caroline Barker, and covered UEFA Women’s Euro 2024 for the BBC. She has also taken on coaching roles, working as Next Gen Head Coach with Manchester City Women and, from 2025, as assistant coach for England’s Women’s U23 team.