Ella Toone's emotional reasons there was an empty seat next to her mum at Euro 2025 final

England Lioness hero Ella Toone felt that it was fate that there was an empty seat next to her mum for the Euro 2025 final. The Manchester United midfielder started against Spain and played 87 minutes before their triumphant penalty shoot-out, which saw Chloe Kelly net the winning spot-kick after goalkeeper Hannah Hampton's two saves.

Toone scored twice in the tournament and also had two assists, playing a huge role in retaining the title. Between the famous wins, four years apart, she has gone through significant hardship.

She tragically lost her father last September, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer the day after his daughter and the Lionesses beat Germany to win Euro 2022. Nick Toone died three days short of his 60th birthday.

United's Women's Super League (WSL) campaign began just two weeks later and Toone started every game before a calf injury in November. She claimed that she didn't "actually grieve" her father's death until she was sidelined, which forced her to get "mentally right."

During her time away from the pitch, she was able to physically and mentally focus on herself, speaking to a counsellor and spending time with her partner Joe while undergoing rehab in Dubai.

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She returned to her club in typical Toone fashion, lighting up the WSL with six goals in her first five games back, including a hat-trick against Manchester City.

A starring role with England was retained as Toone played every game of Euro 2025, including Sunday's final win over Spain.

The 25-year-old was left in no doubt that her dad was watching from above in Basel, taking to Instagram after the match to write: "We did it for our angels in the sky. Forever with us & forever proud."

Toone then shared a picture of a vacant chair next to where her mum was sitting inside St. Jakob-Park. The match was said to be sold out, with an official attendance of 34,000, but seat 430 remained empty.

"Spare seat next to my mum tonight," Toone captioned the picture. "If that's not a sign I don't know what is. I know you were there Dad. Love you cock."

Sunday's iconic victory proved to be an emotional one for Toone and team-mate Beth Mead, who she shared a photo with in the dressing room, after the Arsenal forward's mother also died in 2023.

She reposted Toone's "we did it for our angels in the sky" message and has been raising awareness about ovarian cancer after her mum's "long and brave battle" with the disease in the past two-and-a-half years.