Adriana Taranto has capped off a dream day in her footballing career with a one-year contract extension at Western United, confirmed just hours after the midfielder received her first CommBank Matildas call-up.
Fresh from receiving the first Matildas call-up of her career, the 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a one-season contract extension at Western, where she will look to add to her 55 appearances in Green and Black through the Ninja A-League 2025-26 campaign.
Taranto, a foundation player for Western’s Ninja A-League side, was selected in new Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro’s first international squad for a series of international friendlies against Slovenia and Panama in Perth across June and July.
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“I am so excited to sign at Western again for a fourth straight season. I love the Western family and being home in Tarneit in front of our fans is an amazing feeling,” Taranto said after inking a fresh one-year contract.
“It has been a crazy year for me, but I wouldn’t change it at all. I would not have been able to achieve anything without the support of the club, my teammates, my family and friends.
“I am going to continue to work hard and do everything I can to help this Club be successful and to be the best version of myself.”
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Described as “the backbone” of Western’s Ninja A-League side by the club’s general manager of football Mal Impiombato, Taranto has called the club home since its inaugural Ninja A-League season in 2022-23.
The central midfielder will hope to return to the club for season 2025-26 as a capped Matilda, having been included in Montemurro’s squad for Australia’s two friendlies against Panama on July 5 and July 8 in Western Australia.
Taranto was selected in Montemurro’s 33-player squad as one of several players picked only for the Panama friendlies, which will take place after games against Slovenia on June 26 and 29.
“Adriana has been the backbone of our program for a number of years now,” Impiombato said.
“Her rise to success in becoming a Matilda is an incredible achievement for her and just reward for everything that she has committed to, both as a footballer and a person.
“She is the perfect ambassador for our club, first and foremost, and a fantastic leader and player on the pitch. We are ecstatic to have her sign on for season 2025-26.”
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