Off-contract Matildas star Katrina Gorry eyes new adventure but A-League return unlikely
New detail reveals Matildas midfielder Katrina Gorry’s next move after announcing plans to leave her Swedish club and start a “new adventure”.
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Katrina Gorry’s future remains a mystery following her surprise departure from Sweden but a return to the A-League Women is off the cards for the Matildas star.
Gorry earlier this week announced that she would not be returning to Swedish club Vittsjo GIK, where she has played for the last two years alongside Australian teammates Charli Grant and Clare Polkinghorne.
The 31-year-old is now eyeing a “new adventure” — and that could come in the form of a move to the Women’s Super League in England.
“Thank you for giving me this opportunity, for welcoming us with open arms and for taking care of our little girl. Thank you to our incredible supporters, to my team, to our coaching staff and most of all our incredible Nannie’s,” Gorry wrote on social media.
“This has become our home for the last two years but it’s time to say goodbye and set off on a new adventure. I came here with a 6-month-old and I’m leaving with a bilingual 2-year-old, a beautiful fiance and people that will hold a place in our hearts forever.”
Gorry’s fiance and teammate Clara Markstedt has retired from professional football.
While it is unsure exactly where Gorry’s “new adventure” will take the trio, it won’t be back home to Australia – at least not to play football.
Fans were quick to hope that the star midfielder would make a return to Brisbane Roar for a 12th season.
Gorry played in the A-League Women at the end of last campaign during the Swedish league’s off-season.
She has made more than 100 appearances for the Roar, winning two premierships along the way.
The move back to Australia isn’t as far fetched as it seems with fellow Matildas teammates Cortnee Vine, Tameka Yallop, Kyah Simon and Lydia Williams all playing in the domestic competition. Top class players Chloe Logarzo, Emily Gielnik and Elise Kellond-Knight, who all missed the World Cup squad due to injury, also play in the A-League women’s competition.
But a spokeswoman from Australian Professional Leagues, who manage the A-Leagues, ruled a homecoming out.
“We have been keeping a keen eye on Gorry and would love to have her play in the Liberty A-League, however there currently are no plans for her to join the league this season,” the spokeswoman said.
Gorry is most likely to join an English Women’s Super League team — where 10 other Matildas currently play — in the next transfer window which opens on January 1, or the American league.
The NWSL doesn’t kick off again until March, meaning Gorry would face a long time between matches and possibly risk losing her spot in the Matildas starting line up ahead of the Olympics next July.
If she were to join the WSL she would miss out on less game time, with the WSL shutting down over the festive season from December 18 to January 21.
It has also been reported that Grant has not renewed her contract with Vittsjo GIK.
The Matildas defender was linked to English club Aston Villa following the World Cup but a deal was never confirmed.
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