Melbourne Victory have announced the signing of academy graduate Poppy O’Keeffe for the Ninja A-League 2025-26 season.
Becoming the first female player to progress through the entire Victory academy pathway to first team, O’Keeffe started her journey at the club at 10 years of age after attending the Wodonga Pre-Academy Centre.
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Originating from Wangaratta, O’Keeffe’s hard work and consistency saw her climb through the club’s Ninja A-League pathway program, notably earning a call-up into Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins’ Round 13 wider gameday squad last season.
Most recently spending the second half of the NPLW Victoria season with the FV Academy, the 17-year-old midfielder played every single minute of the 11 games she featured in.
Earning a first-team contract ahead of the Ninja A-League 2025-26 season, O’Keeffe expressed her excitement to join up with the senior squad.
“Since joining the academy set-up, it has been a dream of mine to become an A-League player at Melbourne Victory, so to get the opportunity to sign with the first team is amazing.
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“I want to thank everyone who has helped me on my journey to this point; I can’t wait to get started.”
Welcoming O’Keeffe to the senior squad ahead of the season, head coach Hopkins praised the teenager’s rise to the professional ranks, supporting her along the way.
“The day before we played a game in Adelaide, I went up to Wodonga to watch her play. At just 10 years old, she was already dominant against the boys and the standout.
“From that time on, we were really keen on Poppy and looking forward to assisting in her development.
“She became a train-on player with the first team at 14 years old and has not looked back, progressing rapidly and now officially joining up with the A-League Women’s squad.”
O’Keeffe joins new recruits Grace Maher, Zoe McMeeken, Rhianna Pollicina, Chelsea Blissett, Sienna Saveska, Kennedy White and Taylor Ray for the upcoming A-League Women’s season, coupled with the re-signings of Laura Pickett, Ella O’Grady, Courtney Newbon, Nicki Flannery, Rachel Lowe, Holly Furphy, Alana Jančevski, Sofia Sakalis and the signings of five rising stars.
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