A defender or midfielder, she won 71[2] caps for the English national team and was selected in the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

[3][4] At club level, Asante has played for English clubs Arsenal, Chelsea[5] and Aston Villa, whilst also having played for Saint Louis Athletica, Chicago Red Stars, Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC of the American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS).

Her first match for Göteborg was back at Arsenal in the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter final, a 3–1 first leg defeat.

Due to a foot injury, it was not expected that Asante could play in Malmö's looming Champions League fixture with holders VfL Wolfsburg.

[citation needed] On 7 June 2020, she signed for newlypromoted club Aston Villa, ahead of their maiden WSL campaign.

[28] Asante played in the 2011 World Cup and made her 50th senior international appearance in England's 2–0 win over eventual champions Japan.

[30] In 2015, the politically vocal Asante was "a glaring omission" from England's squad for the 2015 World Cup in Canada, having been the only English player to sign a petition against the controversial artificial turf used at the tournament.

[31] She criticised the head coach Mark Sampson for the manner in which he informed her of her non selection and his unwillingness to enter into further correspondence on the matter.

[33] At the opening match of the tournament, a 4–1 win over France, Asante suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was substituted after fourteen minutes.

[34][35] She was allotted 152 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.

[41] Asante is openly lesbian and is in a relationship with ITV News Sports reporter and presenter Beth Fisher.