THE W-League signing spree continued on Thursday, August 19 as a number of clubs added key personnel to their respective squads ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
Melbourne City legend Rebekah Stott announced her return to the game on Thursday morning, signing on with City after her one-season absence and a successful battle to overcome Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Joining Stott in committing to clubs around the W-League for the upcoming campaign were a trio of Sydney FC stars, an up-and-coming Brisbane Roar defender and a striker returning home to ply her trade for the Reds.
Read on as w-league.com.au wraps up all the latest transfer news ahead of the 2021/22 season!
READ: Rebekah Stott to make triumphant W-League return
Premiers retain strength in numbers with three re-signings
Sydney FC will remain in the hunt for silverware in 2021/22 after announcing a further three Premiership winners from last campaign have recommitted to the club, with Jada Whyman, Cortnee Vine and Charlotte Mclean all extending their time in Sky Blue.
Whyman will be eager to go one better next season after being adjudged best afield in a losing Grand Final side in 2020/21. The Sky Blues fell to Melbourne Victory 1-0 after 30 minutes of extra time with a freakish goal scored in the moments before a penalty shootout.
Vine, meanwhile, is ready to make up for lost time after netting four goals in 11 games prior to a torn medial collateral ligament which kept her out of the Finals Series. Mclean, meanwhile, enjoyed a consistent season in 2020/21 in which she started all 14 Sky Blues fixtures in her debut W-League campaign.
With seven of last season’s Premiers signed on for 2021/22, Sydney head coach Ante Juric says he’s delighted to have retained core members of his squad capable of pushing the side into title contention once more.
“Jada, Cortnee and Charlotte were all pivotal members of our Premiership winning team and it’s great to have them on board for the new season,” Juric told the club website.
“We’re building a really solid squad for the new season, and retaining the core of last season’s team will be key to challenging for the title again.
“I’m delighted with our recruitment so far and with more signings to come I’m expecting a successful season 2021/22.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6248513358001
Rankin commits to Roar for 2021/22
Promising teenage defender Jamilla Rankin has re-signed with Brisbane Roar for the upcoming W-League campaign, becoming the first player to sign on under new boss Garrath McPherson.
It’s a signing which reflects the club’s intentions to let talent fostered in Queensland thrive on the W-League stage, with Sydney-born Rankin a former Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) Player of the Year who developed through the state’s National Training Centre program (NTC) which is currently led by McPherson.
Rankin earned one of three Young Footballer of the Year nominations for her phenomenal performances at full-back for the Roar throughout the 2020/21 campaign.
Re-signing with the club for the upcoming season, the 18-year-old says she’s eager to take her game to the next level under McPherson this season.
“I was extremely grateful for the trust that was put in me last season,” Rankin said.
“I didn’t really expect so much to come from it – I was just thankful to get a contract.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my development and getting another season of experience under my belt.
“I think there will be opportunities for a lot of players to step up and I have full trust that we will perform.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6232089894001
Victory lock in strike trio
Joining the contracted Melina Ayres in leading the line for Melbourne Victory in 2021/22 will be Lia Privitelli and Catherine Zimmerman, with the pair signing on with the Champions for another season on Thursday afternoon.
Privitelli featured 13 times for Jeff Hopkins’ side in 2020/21, making 10 substitute appearances and putting in a further three shifts from the start. Zimmerman, meanwhile, bagged six goals in her 10 appearances last season, ending the campaign two goals behind leading Victory scorer Ayres who found the back of the net eight times.
Victory boss Hopkins says all three players bring different attacking qualities to a Champion squad eager to go back-to-back in 2021/22.
“Lia, Catherine and Melina all have important roles to play in our squad and add different elements to the team,” Hopkins said.
“Lia’s pace and work rate is difficult to match. She can play on either wing and provide us with an edge to break teams down, which allows us to play the way we want to play.
“Catherine was a key player for us last season. Her unique ability to play across the attacking line gives us an extra dynamic and she’s a great finisher with her left and right foot.
“Melina has worked very hard on her game and is a natural goal scorer. She played in her preferred position last season and really grasped that opportunity.
“We’re excited for the season ahead and to finalise the full squad.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6229843204001
Reds snare attacking weapon Hayward
Adelaide United have signed Sydney-born attacker Paige Hayward ahead of the 2021/22 W-League campaign.
Hayward plied her trade in the Austrian Frauen Bundesliga at FFC Vorderland in 2021, scoring once in five appearances. The forward came through the United States college system, spending five years with the University of Texas
Hayward spent five years in the United States playing in college with the University of Texas in 2014 before transferring to Texas Southern University, where she scored 25 goals in three seasons.
Reds W-League Head Coach Adrian Stenta told the club website Heyward’s keen eye for goal will bolster his attacking stocks for the 2021/22 campaign.
“We’re really excited to have signed Paige,” he said.
“Her experience abroad in the United States and Austria will certainly improve our squad.
“Paige is a natural goal-scorer and a smart footballer and her arrival adds a lot of quality to our attack.”
