Born in Beverley, England, Purfield is the younger of two children to her parents, Rob and Liz.[1] She grew up in Cottingham and began playing football at the age of five, joining the kids academy at her local club, Cottingham Rangers, because her brother James already played for the club. When she was seven years old, Purfield was playing on the under-9s boys team for Cottingham, where she was the only girl.[3] She was identified and, after a trial, selected to the Hull Girls Centre of Excellence. When the Hull centre was closed down by The Football Association (FA) as part of a national restructuring of the women's game, Purfield switched to the North Yorkshire Centre of Excellence.[4]
Purfield attended Cottingham High School and Wyke College, where she played on the football team and was named Sports Personality of the Year during her senior season.[1] She captained the team to the Sports Colleges National Cup Final and scored the FA Goal of the Game in the final.[5] At Wyke, she pursued her A-levels in physical education.[6]
Career
Purfield began her career with Doncaster Rovers Belles, making her senior first team debut on 20 April 2013 as a halftime substitute in a 4–0 WSL defeat to Chelsea. In doing so she became Doncaster's youngest WSL player.[7] Purfield moved to newly founded Durham during the 2014 season, scoring three goals in their inaugural WSL 2 campaign as the team finished 6th.[8]
Following Liverpool's relegation, Purfield left upon the expiration of her contract and remained in the WSL after signing a two-year contract with Bristol City.[14][15] She made 27 appearances for Bristol in all competitions, including in the 2021 FA Women's League Cup Final as Bristol City finished runners-up to Chelsea. Purfield left at the end of the season following the team's relegation.[16]
Leicester City
In July 2021, Purfield joined Leicester City.[17] In June 2023, she departed the club.[18]