Melbourne City have signed six exciting young guns, including the CommBank Junior Matildas captain, ahead of the Ninja A-League 2025-26 campaign.
Junior Matildas captain Kaya Jugovic headlines the group, signing a two-year deal.
The 16-year-old midfielder arrives on the back of a standout ASEAN Under-16 Championships, where she was named Player of the Tournament after leading Australia to the title with a 1-0 win over Thailand in the final.
She is joined by fellow Junior Matildas Izabella Rako, Keira Sarris, Danella Butrus, and Dali Gorr Burchmore in signing for the reigning Ninja A-League Premiers.
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Rako, also signing a two-year contract, marks a milestone for the club by becoming the first women’s player to progress through City Football Schools before earning a professional deal – a clear demonstration of the strength of City’s development pathway.
Sarris, a promising young defender from Football Victoria’s Emerging Program, is regarded as an exciting prospect for the future, while Butrus brings strong credentials as the joint winner of the NPLW Gold Medal and recipient of the NPLW Media Player of the Year award.
Goalkeeper Gorr Burchmore also arrives with a growing reputation as a promising young shot-stopper.
Completing the new arrivals is goalkeeper Ayana Aoyagi, who joins from South Melbourne.
2025-26 NINJA A-LEAGUE FIXTURE RELEASE
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Melbourne City director of football Michael Petrillo said: “We’re really pleased to be welcoming so many young homegrown talents into our squad for the season ahead.
“Our club has always prided itself on supporting and developing female footballers, and that commitment is reflected in the players we are announcing today.
“They each bring exciting qualities to the team and will have the perfect environment to continue growing alongside our experienced group.
“With both the A-League Women’s and AFC Women’s Champions League campaigns on the horizon, the depth and balance of our squad will be more important than ever.”
