Ellie Carpenter could be in for a shock move from the French league to link up with star Matilda
Ellie Carpenter could be in for a shock club move that would see her link up with another Matildas teammate. Plus the latest transfer moves in the A-League. FULL LIST OF FREE AGENTS.
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A huge transfer move could see Matildas’ star defender Ellie Carpenter and prolific striker Sam Kerr link up at the same Enlglish club.
Chelsea, where Kerr is contracted to until the end of the 2026 season, is reportedly looking to steal Carpenter from French side Lyon.
Carpenter signed a four-year deal with the French champions in 2022 locking her in until 2026.
But the English club are desperate to snag her – offering up right back Ashley Lawrence in return.
Carpenter’s fiance Daniëlle van de Donk’s contract with Lyon has expired.
The idea of Kerr and Carpenter spending more time in the same side would be appealing to Australian officials, having seen the impact on national team performance through the combination of Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord at English club Arsenal.
Elsewhere in the UK, Matildas goalkeeper Teagan Micah is off contract after departing Liverpool – she is yet to announce her next move.
There are also rumours that Hayley Raso will be departing Tottenham – despite being contracted until 2026. She played just 835 minutes across 13 WSL games this season.
Raso has deleted all references to Tottenham from her social pages – hinting at some sort of falling out.
Emily van Egmond is contracted to Birmingham City but they failed to secure promotion to the WSL. It is unknown if van Egmond has a get out clause in her contract.
Closer to home, Matildas rising star and A-League Women’s golden boot winner Holly McNamara could be on the move from premiers Melbourne City with the striker off contract.
McNamara, 22, will likely field plenty of offers from interested overseas clubs given her ability to score goals.
According to @leparisien , Chelsea have made a request to sign Ellie Carpenter from OL Lyonnes. The French club is said to have inquired about Ashley Lawrence in return 👀 pic.twitter.com/88B6h2AT9P
— Soccerdonna (@soccerdonna) June 3, 2025
She missed the start of the season after rehabbing from her third ACL tear but finished the season with 15 goals from 19 games.
But with the Asian Cup looming for the Australian national team, McNamara could be tempted to stay in the A-Leauge.
The fact her club Melbourne City is locked in for the Asian Champions League again is also a potential lure.
Plenty of talented A-League’s players have been tempted by overseas teams only to struggle for game time – like Daniella Galic, Cortnee Vine and Charlotte McLean – who all made the move last season.
The part-time nature of the A-League Women’s means players are often only given one-year contracts.
Uncertainty of Canberra United’s future means every single player is off contract.
There has been some big turnover at the Brisbane Roar as well.
Not all ALW clubs were willing to share free agent lists. With many of the ALW players opting to play for National Premier League clubs in the off season it means franchises have to release them.
For instance, Sydney FC doesn’t have many players officially on the books because the majority of the squad is playing NPL.
Here are the known free agents and recontracted players for clubs so far:
CLICK TO JUMP: Overseas-based players | Adelaide United | Brisbane Roar | Canberra United | Central Coast Mariners | Melbourne City | Melbourne Victory | Newcastle Jets | Perth Glory | Sydney FC | Wellington Phoenix | Western Sydney Wanderers | Western United
OVERSEAS BASED PLAYERS
Off contract:
Teagan Micah
Possible moves
Ellie Carpenter to Chelsea
Hayley Raso to leave Tottenham
A-LEAGUE WOMEN
ADELAIDE UNITED
A huge rebuilding year for Adelaide United going from wooden spooners to title contenders but the majority of the squad appears to be on one-year contracts. The club declined to provide details on which players were on and off contract.
Off contract
Lucia Leon
Chelsie Dawber
Fiona Worts
Erin Healy
BRISBANE ROAR
Coach Alex Smith has been locked in for another season after Roar’s most successful season in several years. At one point they were sitting near the top of the table until injuries impacted their performance.
Retiring:
Keeley Richards
Mariel Hecher
Departing:
Sharn Freier (Wolfsburg)
Danelle Tan
Evdokia Popadinova
Tanaye Morris
Tamar Levin
Anneka Lawerenz
CANBERRA UNITED:
Every player at Canberra United, including star Michelle Heyman, is off contract. This is because when the season started the future of the club was unknown.
The side had a massive rebuild ahead of this year – making it through to the finals series. But if a buyer isn’t locked in soon it could well be forced to start from scratch again.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS
The champions didn’t wish to share the details of their off contract players but fans will be pleased to know Isabel Gomez is locked in for at least one more season.
Contracted until the end of the 2025/26 season
Isabel Gomez
Taren King
Off contract
Brooke Nunn
Taylor Ray
Jade Pennock
MELBOURNE CITY
Some big name players are out of contract with the premiers but the lure of once again playing in the Asian Champions League might sway some like Holly McNamara to stay.
Off contract does not mean they won’t be at the club next season. Some are playing NPL so are unable to be signed to City.
Off contract
Sophia Varley
Taylor Otto
Leticia McKenna
Kathryn Harvey
Holly McNamara
Rhianna Pollicina
Rebekah Stott
Kiera Meyers
Leah Davidson
Caitlin Karic
Isabella Accardo
Melissa Barbieri
Malena Mieres
TJ Vlajnic
Contracted until the end of 25/26
Alexia Apostolakis
Emilia Murray
Laura Hughes
Karly Roestbakken
Mariana Speckmaier
Lourdes Bosch
Bryleeh Henry
Contracted until the end of 26/27
Shelby McMahon
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Victory went on a signing blitz last season but details on the lengths of contracts for players like Emily Gielnik, Lydia Williams and Rachel Lowe were not revealed.
Contract until the end of the 25/26 season
Alex Chidiac
Contract until the end of the 26/27 season
Kayla Morrison
Off contract
Claudia Bunge
Ellie Wilson
Alana Murphy
Retiring
Beattie Goad
NEWCASTLE JETS
The Jets have locked in Stephen Hoyle as coach for the next two seasons meaning some big changes to the squad can be expected.
Contracted until the end of the 2025/26 season
Natasha Prior
Claudia Cicco
Elizabeth Copus-Brown
Sophie Hoban
India Breier
Off contract
Cassidy Davis
Sherridan Gallagher
Lara Gooch
Deven Jackson
PERTH GLORY
The West Australian outfit declined to provide details on which players would be returning next season.
Off contract
Naomi Chinnama
SYDNEY FC
The club declined to provide a list of its contracted and off contract players but transfer announcements help put some of the pieces together.
Contracted until the end of 2025/26
Hana Lowry
Brianna Edwards
Kirsty Fenton
Abbey Lemon
Nat Tobin
Madeleine Caspers
Contracted until the end of the 26/27
Shay Hollman
Indiana Dos Santos
Off contract
Kyah Simon
Lucy Johnson
Faye Bryson
Shea Connors
Amber Luchtmeijer
Princess Ibini
Millie Farrow
Jordan Thompson
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Coach Paul Temple has parted ways with Phoenix with a new coach to be appointed closer to the season kicking off. Phoenix’s plans are mostly unknown and with the majority of players on one year deals there could be some heavy turnover.
Retiring
Annalie Longo
Contracted until the end of 2025/26
Lara Wall
Alyssa Whinhan
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS
Contracted to the end of 2025/26 season
Sophie Harding
Cushla Rue
Holly Caspers
Off contract
Ena Harada
Gemma Ferris
Amy Chessari
Sienna Saveska
Talia Younis
WESTERN UNITED
The Melbourne club is keeping its plans locked up tight. There are just three players locked in for next season so far.
Contracted until end of 2025/26
Grace Maher
Sasha Grove
Alana Cortelino
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