Melbourne Victory’s signing spree has continued, with confirmation former defender Claudia Bunge has returned to the club ahead of the upcoming season.
A two-time Championship winner in her first spell at the club, Bunge returns to Victory having spent last season in the Danish Women’s Super League with HB Koge.
Playing 45 times across three seasons, Bunge became an integral part of the club’s defence and helped Jeff Hopkins’ side win league titles in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
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“It’s great to be back at Melbourne Victory and I can’t wait to get started,” said Bunge after penning her new contract which will see her represent the club this coming season.
“I had a great experience in Europe where I learned a lot about myself and my football and I’m looking to achieve even more with Victory this season.
She concluded: “The Club and the team feels like home to me and to be working with Jeff and this group once again this season is something that’s really special for me and I’m hoping to lift even more silverware with this team at the end of the year.”
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A 28-time international with the Football Ferns, the 24-year-old also represented New Zealand at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and Victory boss Hopkins is pleased to welcome back a player of Bunge’s calibre.
“We’re incredibly pleased to welcome back a familiar face in Claudia for the upcoming season,” said Hopkins.
“Her range of defensive skills, reliability and leadership on the park is what sets her apart from a lot of players in the league and she will be an invaluable asset for us this season.
Hopkins added: “She helped create a formidable defensive group during our Championship seasons and we’re looking for her to do the same with some new and familiar faces around her this season as well.”
Bunge becomes the fifth new signing of the off-season for Victory following the arrivals of Alana Jancevski from Adelaide, Nickoletta Flannery from Canberra, Sofia Sakalis from Perth and English defender Ellie Wilson.
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Those acquisitions follow on from an unprecedented signing spree made by the club earlier in the week where they re-signed FIFTEEN members of last season’s squad.
Among those to sign on for the new campaign were Matildas Emily Gielnik, Alex Chidiac and Lydia Williams while captain Kayla Morrison has also committed her future to Victory.
