Michelle Heyman is on a mission after re-signing with Canberra United as the A-Leagues legend vowed: “I want to show everyone else that you don’t have to always go overseas”.
Heyman – the all-time leading goalscorer in Liberty A-League history – will return to the nation’s capital for the 2024-25 season despite interest from abroad.
The evergreen 36-year-old is coming off a history-making campaign that saw the legendary striker claim a third Golden Boot and return to the CommBank Matildas squad.
Click here to secure your Unite Round tickets NOW!
“[The offers] were kind of from everywhere, and it was wild to get so many, you know, emails from different clubs wanting me,” Heyman told reporters, having been heavily linked with Women’s Super League (WSL) side West Ham.
“It was a really nice feeling but deep down inside, Canberra owns my heart, and it just it feels like home being here, and I know I can be the best professional at this club.
“I can still make national team duties at this club and play in this league.
“I want to show that to everyone else, that you don’t have to always go overseas. You can live at home. You can live with your family.
“You can be happy outside of football, in the place where you know, you call home and be successful at your job.”
Heyman broke the Liberty A-League’s goalscoring record in 2023-24 after becoming the first player to score 100 competition goals.
The 67-cap Matilda and two-time Julie Dolan Medallist, who featured at the Paris Olympic Games this year, finished the season with 17 goals.
Heyman – a two-time Premiership and Championship winner – enjoyed her best ever season, having found the back of the net 15 times in 2011-12 while equalling the Liberty A-League’s record for most goals in a season held by CommBank Matildas superstar Sam Kerr (2018-19 when there were 12 matches in the season).
Fronting a press conference after her new deal was made official, Heyman received the obvious question first up: Why Canberra?
Her answer said it all.
“Canberra is home. Canberra is my love. I’ve given everything to this club, and I want it to be successful,” said Heyman.
“I want it to be here for the next 20 years plus. I want the next generation of kids to have a team in Canberra. I want them to inspire to be professional athletes.
“I want them to live the dream that I have currently been living, and to do that is to be here at home, and to be here and give my all to to Australian football and to make it bigger and to make it larger.”
WONDERKID WATCH: TWO A-Leagues clubs clinch trophies as 16-year-old goal machine emerges
Heyman’s historic season – one that saw her reach 110 career goals in the A-Leagues – resulted in a return to the international arena having not represented the CommBank Matildas since 2018.
She scored four goals in a World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan, while she also found the back of the net at the Olympics.
In her past nine games for Australia, Heyman has scored seven goals.
Heyman joins Ruby Nathan, Hayley Taylor-Young and Sofia Christopherson in re-signing for Canberra, while Sally James has also arrived.
Meanwhile, Chloe Lincoln, Sasha Grove, Vesna Milivojevic, Emma Ilijoski and Nickoletta Flannery have departed.
Click here to secure your Unite Round tickets NOW!
“It’s definitely exciting and a relief,” said new Canberra head coach Antoni Jagarinec.
“I’ve been working with Michelle and (Capital Football CEO) Sam (Farrow) and the club through the whole journey of recruiting and her options for this next coming football season.
“We’ve been had some upfront and honest conversations with her and we definitely wanted her here, but we wanted to make sure that she explored every option and made the best football decision for herself.
“We’re extremely excited that that she’s chosen to be make Canberra United home for another season.”
LOCKED IN! Dates announced for 2024-25 A-Leagues season
UNITE ROUND LAUNCHED FOR 2024-25: Everything you need to know
UNITE ROUND 2024-25: What’s new this season?
FULL FIXTURE: Who your team is up against in Unite Round
