Matildas signing tracker: Victory nab Lydia Williams on two-year deal
Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams is heading back to the A-Leagues to join Victory - keep up to date with all the latest contract moves here.
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A third Matildas World Cup star will join the A-Leagues with goalkeeper Lydia Williams transferring to Melbourne Victory.
Williams, 35, didn’t take to the pitch at the World Cup, with Mackenzie Arnold elevated to first choice keeper.
She joins Matildas’ teammates Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC) and Tameka Yallop (Brisbane Roar) in the women’s competition.
Williams has spent the past three seasons playing abroad at Arsenal, PSG and most recently Brighton Hove and Albion.
She joins Victory on a two-year deal.
Williams has 120 A-League appearances including four championships and being named keeper of the year four times.
The experienced keeper was struggling for game time at Brighton so the move is no huge surprise.
Melbourne Victory Head Coach, Jeff Hopkins said Williams’ experience would be invaluable to the team.
“We’re confident we’ve built a squad this season that will challenge for the Championship. The work starts now for us to come together as a team and use the upcoming pre-season to continue the momentum of last season and return to the summit in 2024,” Hopkins said.
Williams is excited to play back on home soil.
“I’m excited to be returning home and representing Melbourne Victory this season,” Williams said.
“Jeff and the team have built an incredible squad for the upcoming season and I’m looking forward to playing my role and contributing to the squad.
“After such an exciting period for our sport, to be returning to the competition where I started my career and had so many great memories is an honour for me but I also want to continue making great memories with the team and the Club.”
Victory’s first game of the season will be against Willaim’s Matilda’s’ teammate Tameka Yallop’s Brisbane Roar, on October 15.
EPL GIANTS MAKE AUDACIOUS PLAY FOR MATILDAS STAR ON DEADLINE DAY
Kyra Cooney-Cross looks set to join Matildas teammates Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord at Arsenal after the north London giant made an audacious deadline day move.
The BBC are among the UK media outlets to report Arsenal’s bid for Cooney-Cross, with The Evening Standard revealing the club was prepared to pay a transfer fee of GBP140,000 ($AUD271,000) to her Swedish club Hammarby to secure the move.
Cooney-Cross was reportedly flying to London today to undergo a medical with Arsenal. She had also been targeted by WSL clubs Chelsea and Manchester United.
Cooney-Cross was one of the breakout stars of the FIFA World Cup and was instrumental in propelling the Matildas to their best ever finish at the tournament.
A reunion with Catley and Foord at Arsenal would represent a dream move for the talented midfielder, with all three set to be central figures for the Matildas for years to come.
A move for Cooney-Cross would cap a busy summer for Arsenal, who have also signed Alessia Russo, Cloe Lacasse, Amanda Ilestedt and Laia Codina ahead of the WSL season.
BREAKOUT MATILDAS STAR ON CUSP OF LIFE-CHANGING MOVE
Matildas defender Clare Hunt is reportedly set to sign with PSG — a huge move for the 24-year-old centre back who only made her Aussie debut in February.
Hunt went into the World Cup as an unknown and emerged as a superstar — rarely making a mistake the entire tournament and impressing all with her level headedness and composure despite having less than 10 international appearances to her name.
She had previously been linked with Everton in the English women’s competition after spending time training with them before the World Cup.
But rumours from French football experts have her pinned as heading to PSG.
If the move transpired Hunt would be in the same competition as fellow Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter who plays for Lyon.
PSG’s season kicks off on September 18.
Clare Hunt was a revelation in the World Cup. She's was the rock at the heart of the Matildas defense. Player of the tounament for the Tillies, IMO 💛💚 https://t.co/Zu1pDCFsz1
— venice (@VenNotBen) September 11, 2023
AUSSIE NO. 1 EYES MOVE TO POWERHOUSE
The Brick Wall could be on the move.
Matildas showstopper Mackenzie Arnold, renamed the “Brick Wall” after her World Cup performances, is eyeing a switch to one of the biggest football clubs in the world.
Arnold made her Matildas debut in 2012 but had to wait patiently until this year to be named the No. 1 keeper for the Aussie squad.
Arnold had a standout season at West Ham playing all 20 games, but with England keeper Mary Earps departing Manchester United many have the Australian tipped as her top replacement.
Earp’s tenure at United has been under doubt for several months owing to contract issues.
Arsenal reportedly made a record bid for the World Cup golden glove winner, above the $195,000 (AUD) bid made for Kailen Sheridan by San Diego Wave — but United rejected the offer.
If Arnold were to go she could eventually be joined by Matildas’ teammate Kyra-Cooney Cross who has been linked to United, but is contracted to Hammerby FC until January.
Other Aussies tipped to join the WSL are also yet to sign contracts with Charli Grant (rumoured to join Aston Villa) and Clare Hunt (Everton) yet to be confirmed.
The transfer window is open until September 14.
MATILDAS STAR CONFIRMS HOMECOMING
Matildas star Tameka Yallop has signed with Brisbane Roar on a multi-year deal.
Yallop was part of the 23 woman squad who competed at the Women’s’ World Cup, playing limited minutes after sustaining an injury in the warm up game against France.
The move makes Yallop the second Matildas’ World Cup star to join the W-League, with Cortnee Vine re-signing with Sydney FC.
Yallop is no stranger to the Roar previously wearing the orange jersey from 2008-2018.
She had a stint at Melbourne City before heading to West Ham for a season.
On the back of the successful World Cup Yallop is excited to play in Australia again.
“I’m excited to be home. Having a World Cup at home just brings the nostalgia back to returning to Brisbane Roar as well, where I did a fair chunk of my youth football. The timing couldn’t be better,” Yallop said.
“Not only how far we went in the tournament, but it’s great knowing there’s going to be more opportunities for younger players coming through, better training facilities, more coaches available to them, and the fact that it’s going to keep growing and going up from here is exciting.
“I have a lot to offer for younger players coming through and balancing out the team. Having a range in the age group really shapes the team so I’m looking forward to providing that experience.
“The very first inaugural season, winning the Championship is a very fond memory of mine, I am always chasing that feeling again. That will be our team’s aspirations this season and mine as well.”
YOUNG MATILDA SET TO FIND NEW HOME AT VILLA
An exciting young Matildas’ player’s career is set to take off – despite only getting a few minutes of game time this World Cup.
Charli Grant, who found her way into the squad while Ellie Carpenter was recovering from her ACL tear, was called off the bench to play just a few minutes against Canada in the group stage.
In the same match she suffered a head knock and was later diagnosed with a concussion.
The 21-year-old is rumoured to be joining the 10 other Australian’s currently playing in the English Women’s Super League – with Aston Villa likely to sign her.
It would be a big move for Grant who currently plays for Vittsjö GIK in the Swedish league.
The WSL is due to kick off on October 1.
Fellow Matildas and Swedish league player Kyra Cooney-Cross has been linked with Everton and Chelsea.
Sydney FC stars Charlie Rule and Mackenzie Hawkesby have made the move to Brighton while Cortnee Vine has announced she will be staying at the Sky Blues (see below) for another season in the W-League, despite having offers to play overseas.
Injured Matildas player Chloe Logarzo, who missed the World Cup team due to complications from an ACL injury, will also star in the W-League, playing for Western United.
VINE SHUNS EUROPE IN SIGNING COUP FOR SYDNEY FC
Matildas World Cup penalty shootout hero Cortnee Vine has shunned the opportunity to join a big European or USA-based club and committed her future to Sydney FC.
The 25-year-old, who kicked home the 20th spot kick against France in Australia’s incredible World Cup quarterfinal, has confirmed she will remain in the A-League.
“I’m excited and thrilled to be staying with Sydney FC and playing in the Liberty A-League for this season,” she said.
“I can feel the Women’s World Cup has ignited a real passion for the women’s game in this country and given it real momentum.
“We are heading into an exciting new era for Australian football and I’m incredibly happy to be a part of it.”
Sydney FC coach Ante Juric was thrilled to retain the Matildas star.
“Cortnee is a tremendous player and a great advocate for the game in Australia,” he said.
“She lives and breathes football and showed at the World Cup that she is one of the best players in the World.
“To have her playing for Sydney FC next season and helping to defend our championship and premiership is a real coup for Sydney FC and women’s football in Australia.”
A host of Matildas stars have already lined up, or are eyeing, off-field moves following the World Cup. Fellow young gun Kyra Cooney-Cross is being chased by several big-name clubs including Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s Chelsea.
Originally published as Matildas signing tracker: Victory nab Lydia Williams on two-year deal
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