TRANSFER NEWS - AUSTRALIA'S TSUNAMI !
Picture : Australia's National Team 2019 - Standing from left : Chloe LOGARZO (Bristol City/England), Ellie CARPENTER (Olympique Lyon/France), Emily VAN EGMOND (VFL Wolfsburg/Germany ?), Lydia WILLIAMS (Arsenal FC/England), Alana KENNEDY (Orlando Pride/USA), Clare POLKINGHOME (Avaldsnes/Norway). Down from left : Stephanie CATLEY (Arsenal FC/England), Mary FOWLER (Montpellier/France), Catlin FOORD (Arsenal FC/England), Tameka YALLUP (Klepp IL/Norway), Samantha KERR (Chelsea FC/England).The Australian players went to Europe!
AUSTRALIAN WOMEN TSUNAMI !
When Australian Women's football team Captain Sam Kerr surprisingly joined English WSL club Chelsea FC on 13 November 2019, No body expected an Australian Tsunami in European women’s league. After the corona crisis in european football, the transfer market opened up with a fresh wave of popular transfers.. Sudden rush of australian women footballers into the European transfer market made it more attractive and competitive. Before Sam there were a handful of players who appeared in EU teams but none of them made more headlines. Actual trends began just after her signing. When worlds best striker Sam decided her surprise entry to Blue jersey from Chicago Reds gave a sudden limelight to English WSL and UWCL.
After Sam Ker, Australian W - league club Canberra United lost two of their best players to Norwegean league. Karly Roestbakken to Lillestrøm SK and her team mate Nikola Orgill joined Kolbotn. Next comes bigger transfer, Matilda's winger Hayley Raso joined Everton on a six-month contract. This was the beginning of an invasion to European powerhouses. Caitlin Foord scored another highest signing in WSL. This time Arsenal FC opened their doors to Matilda’s.
Samantha Kerr (Chelsea FC) and Catlin Foord (Arsenal FC)
It was Amy Harrison first to set foot on continental Europe in this transfer window. She swiftly joined Dutch team PSV Eindhoven. Soon the french club Montpellier confirmed the signing of Matilda's prodigy 17 year old striker, Mary Fowler from Adelaide United. Elise Kellond-Knight joined swedish club Kristianstads DFF in between these transfers and rumors. But unlucky Elsie injured one her very first match. Emma Checker signed for french club FC Fleury 91 after winning the 2020 W-League championship with Melbourne City.
Ellie Carpenter signed in Lyon, the UEFA Champions League winner since 4 years !
After her long injury vocation Matilda's midfielder Katrina Gorry came to the football field through Avaldsnes IL along withMatilda’s experienced defender Clare Polkinghorne. Meanwhile another Norweagean club Arna-Bjornar secured 22 year old Australian Goalkeeper Teagan Micah. 19 year old Laura Hughes decided to explore more wider, she announced her first ever overseas contract with Iceland club Throttur Reykjavik.
Between this transfer rush, the biggest transfer in australian history was unveiled, 20 year old Aussie defender Ellie Carpenter signed a deal with the biggest European club, 6 times UWCL champions Olympique Lyon. With this transfer World's attention turns to remaining australian players. All want to know who will be the next. Amid transfer rumors Matilda's signed news deals without interruptions. Shortly before Catley's move, Western Sydney Wanderers' W-League star Mastrantonio announced she was joining Aussie coach Tanya Oxtoby and Matilda's midfielder Chloe Logarzo at Bristol City. Soon after this Steph Catley announced after much speculation that she'll be joining Aussie coaches Joe Montemurro and Alex D'Antino alongside Matilda's striker Caitlin Foord at WSL powerhouses Arsenal FC.
Next turn goes to Vetran striker Kyah Simon. She surprised everyone after signing a good deal with Dutch big hands PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal scored again after they signed third Australian player Lydia Williams. Departure of French goalkeeper PM Magnin forced gunners to search for a class keeper and their eyes come in Australian #1 Lydia. 32 year old experienced hands will prove gunners' decision in upcoming UWCL soon.
Lydia Williams and Stephanie Catley joined Catlin Foord in Arsenal !
It seems there is a competition going between WSL clubs. Just after Arsenal’s message West Ham United have announced the signing of Goal keeper Mackenzie Arnold. 26 year old Mackenzie last played for Brisbane Roar before traveling to England. Everyday new names appeared on the transfer board. Even today Young Matilda's defender Isobel Dalton nounced her ticket to Italian club Napoli. Also there is an undisclosed deal about Angie Beard. Icelandic reports have listed Melbourne Victory's W-League star with a move to Icelandic champions KR Reykjavik.
Not even players also team offiels flying to Europe to get experience before the 2023 Women's world cup. For the first time in their history Australia and their down under neighbour New Zealand are going to host a women's football world cup in 2023. On that occasion Matilda's want to send all of their talents to get some touch from abroad. Earlier European Women's football was not so popular because of its semi-professional approach and less salary system. But in recent years Womens football dramatically changed and big names of men’s football clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United came forward to create their own space. Also in the US, NWSL takes new financial terms on its funding. All this matters forced Australians to search new football fields.
The List is not finished yet. There are more Rumors. Also some old Matilda’s who played in Europe earlier like Lisa De Vanna (Fiorentina), Emily Gielnick (FC Bayern München). Emily Van Egmond (VFL Wolfsburg), Tameka Yallop (Klepp IL) are on the new Transfer radar. Another top class player Alanna Kennady still playing in the USA in Orlando Pride has not opened her mind yet.