From lethal strikers to defensive dynamos and midfield maestros, there’ll be star power aplenty on display when the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 campaign gets underway.
The season kicks off on Friday, October 17 and with the start of a new term comes the chance for players across the league to assert themselves as the most dominant individuals in the competition.
But ahead of game one on Friday night, aleagues.com.au presents the superstar from every Isuzu UTE A-League club to watch when the action gets underway for another season.
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Western Sydney Wanderers: Angus Thurgate
Angus Thurgate has a new home in 2025-26 and the new Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder has the potential to become one of the league’s most dominant midfielders coming off the back of his best Isuzu UTE A-League season to date.
The 25-year-old finished second in the Johnny Warren Medal count last term, three votes behind former Wanderer Nicolas Milanovic. Now, he’s a Wanderer himself and primed to have a big first season at his new club as part of a deep midfield group at the Wanderers alongside the likes of Josh Brillante, Bozhidar Kraev and fellow new signing Steven Ugarkovic.
Wellington Phoenix: Alex Rufer
As always, you can expect Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer to have an almighty say in his side’s fortunes in 2025-26.
The All Whites and Phoenix midfielder is the ever-reliable figure in Wellington’s best XI. Rufer became a dad in the off-season and returns with a new lease on life following the birth of his daughter; with the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup on the horizon, Rufer will juggle fatherhood and football for the very first time in the upcoming season but the reliable Phoenix skipper is unlikely to miss a beat as he looks to help his club climb back into finals contention.
Sydney FC: Joe Lolley
Will season four in Sky Blue be Joe Lolley’s best to date?
The 33-year-old Englishman has enjoyed a sparkling start to life at Sydney FC, with his 27 goals and 19 assists the most goal contributions (46) of any player in the Isuzu UTE A-League over the last three seasons.
The departure of Adrian Segecic to Portsmouth has heaped pressure on Lolley to lead the way in an attacking unit featuring plenty of new faces, such as Al Hassan Toure, Rhys Youlley, Piero Quispe and Victor Campuzano.
Perth Glory: Adam Taggart
In back-to-back wooden spoon seasons, Adam Taggart has scored 30 goals leading the line for Perth Glory – 44% of the club’s total goal haul.
The CommBank Socceroo has been the definition of a talisman for his hometown club since returning in late 2022. The arrival of Welsh international and Manchester United product Tom Lawrence should see Taggart become the beneficiary of better service in the final third, which can only bolster his chances of flying back into Golden Boot contention this season.
Newcastle Jets: Clayton Taylor
Don’t sleep on this young man: Clayton Taylor is a special young talent and was a smokey for the Johnny Warren Medal in 2024-25.
The 21-year-old midfielder sat second in the medal count after 21 rounds but ended the season in fifth; regardless, his position on the leaderboard painted an exciting picture for the Jets star’s future in the Hunter.
Last season, Taylor scored seven goals and recorded six assists to announce himself as one of the most exciting young players in the competition. His combination with fellow rising star Eli Adams in Newcastle’s attack was one of the most exciting facets of the Jets’ 2024-25 and will continue to be so off the back of an off-season that featured a drought-breaking trophy win in the 2025 Hahn Australia Cup campaign.
Melbourne Victory: Juan Mata
There was no bigger transfer statement in the off-season than Melbourne Victory’s acquisition of Spanish World Cup winner Juan Mata from Western Sydney Wanderers.
Mata is a 41-time Spain international, who won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2012 – a final in which he scored playing alongside the likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Iker Casillas, David Silva and Fernando Torres.
The Spaniard also got his hands on the Champions League and Europa League trophies at star-studded Chelsea.
Mata made just seven starts for Western Sydney in 2024-25 but has moved to Victory in pursuit of regular minutes. Victory head coach Arthur Diles expects to unlock the full potential of one of the most high-profile signings in Isuzu UTE A-League history throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
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Melbourne City: Mathew Leckie
Mathew Leckie returns to action in 2025-26 off the back of one of the all-time great Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final performances.
The Melbourne City star won the Joe Marston Medal in his side’s 1-0 Grand Final win over Melbourne Victory, highlighting his versatility and durability as a deep-lying midfielder, as opposed to his traditional position on the wing. Leckie’s vintage, battle-hardened showing at AAMI Park was crucial to City securing a second Isuzu UTE A-League Championship – now, the veteran CommBank Socceroo returns for another campaign in City blue.
Like so many Australians in the Isuzu UTE A-League – particularly the capped Socceroos – Leckie will use the 2025-26 campaign to put himself in the selection window for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup – expect a fully-fit Leckie to have a serious impact this season.
Macarthur Bulls: Damien Da Silva
Isuzu UTE A-League strikers beware: Damien Sa Silva is back for season 2025-26.
The veteran Frenchman spent two years at Victory but after a one-season absence, the 37-year-old has joined Macarthur Bulls, significantly strengthening the defensive stocks available to Bulls head coach Mile Sterjovski.
Da Silva won the Victory Medal in both of his seasons in Melbourne in a testament to his importance to his former side. The former Olympique Lyonnais, Stade Rennais, SM Caen and Clermont Foot centre-back scored five goals at Victory – including two in stoppage time in a miraculous comeback win over Western United.
Central Coast Mariners: Trent Sainsbury
Central Coast Mariners will be without their captain Trent Sainsbury as they begin the 2025-26 campaign, but upon the Socceroo’s return from an Achilles injury, the 33-year-old will be of vital importance to the club following several big-name off-season departures.
Brian Kaltak is chief among the players who left the club at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Vanuatu international’s absence from the centre of defence has only added to the rush to get Sainsbury back fit and firing as soon as possible.
Experienced Isuzu UTE A-League defender James Donachie has arrived to strengthen the Mariners’ defensive stocks but joining Sainsbury and Donachie in the defensive brigade is young prospect Nathan Paull; Sainsbury’s presence on the pitch won’t just help solidify the Mariners’ rearguard, but it would be invaluable to Paull in his quest to develop into one of Australia’s best young defenders.
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Brisbane Roar: Jay O’Shea
Brisbane Roar’s ever-reliable captain Jay O’Shea is going around for a seventh season in orange and at 37 years of age, still has plenty to give under new head coach Michael Valkanis.
Now, the Irishman – who has more assists (31) than any player since his arrival in the Isuzu UTE A-League in 2019 – believes the Roar squad is the best it has been since his first season at the club – a factor that could prove crucial in O’Shea putting together a big season in Brisbane.
O’Shea has created 413 chances in six seasons for Brisbane – 146 more than the next best (Craig Noone) since the start of the 2019-20 season.
Auckland FC: Guillermo May
After an impressive first season for the Isuzu UTE A-League Premiers, Uruguayan forward Guillermo May returns for duty with the Black Knights in 2025-26.
The 27-year-old won the club’s most valuable player award and golden boot off the back of a nine-goal, two-assist season in Auckland.
His best form was unlocked when Black Knights head coach Steve Corica elected to switch from a system that utilised May as a sole striker to one that relied on a front two, with May dropping deeper to connect with the midfield and link play into the final third.
May thrived in the new position and ended the season four goals behind the league’s equal-top scorers Archie Goodwin and Adrian Segecic. With another full pre-season under his belt, May will fly into action in 2025-26 eager to build on his memorable first season in blue and black.
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Adelaide United: Craig Goodwin
Craig Goodwin is back in the Isuzu UTE A-League and his return to Adelaide United has come at a pivotal time for the Reds, following the exit of Golden Boot winner Archie Goodwin along with key creators Zach Clough and Stefan Mauk.
Goodwin is a club legend and the Reds’ all-time top scorer in the Isuzu UTE A-League with 60 goals from 168 appearances.
Having returned on a three-year deal, Goodwin and the Reds are set to enjoy a long reunion in the years to come as he looks to remind the Adelaide faithful why he earned the nickname of King of Coopers Stadium.
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