Newcastle Jets have signed United States college defender Bel Rolley on her first professional contract ahead of the 2024-25 Liberty A-League season.
Rolley, an American and Australian citizen, grew up in Newcastle playing for Merewether United before a move to the US; Rolley played college football for five years, amassing more than 60 games at the University of Southern California, University of Oregon and the University of Illinois.
The 23-year-old returns to Newcastle where her younger brother, Bronson, plays in the Jets’ academy system.
“It’s a very exciting moment to be able to come back home and start my professional career here,” Rolley said.
“I’m so grateful to be back playing in front of my family and alongside my brother Bronson who is in the Jets’ academy.
“More than 15 years ago I was playing for Merewether United and sitting in the stands of Jets games. Now, after a successful college career I can’t wait to join this Club and help us contend for an A-League Grand Final this season.”
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Rolley is the first off-season signing at a club attempting to improve on a remarkable Semi-Final finish in 2023-24.
It was a campaign that exceeded all expectations in Newcastle, but the club will go into the new season without leading scorer and Philippines international Sarina Bolden, whose departure was confirmed as the third exit from the club after retirees Gema Simon and Alex Huynh.
Jets head coach Ryan Campell, however, is focussing on the future and having secured Rolley’s services for the upcoming campaign, highlighted the defender’s attributes and what she can bring to the club’s push to improve in 2024-25.
“Bel has been somebody that I have been monitoring for a while now through video as well as communicating with her consistently,” Campbell said.
“From the conversations I have had with her as well as her clear ability that has been demonstrated from what I have seen so far, I believe she will fit seamlessly into our way of playing.
“She has the physical characteristics that we are looking for in a central defender as well as a confidence in her ability to build from the back in possession of the ball. Adding someone with the quality Bel possesses will elevate our strong squad further in a key area that we identified as necessary.”
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