From lethal strikers to rock-solid defenders and mercurial midfielders, the Ninja A-League is stacked with overseas talent in 2025-26.
More than 40 players from countries outside of Australia and New Zealand are set to compete in the Ninja A-League 2025-26 season; some of whom are familiar faces to the competition’s fans, whilst others are new arrivals eager to make their mark on the upcoming campaign.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO 2025-26 SEASON: Fixtures, signings, kits & more
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Of all 11 teams competing in 2025-26, Wellington Phoenix have been the busiest in the overseas import market; under new head coach Bev Priestman, the ‘Nix have welcomed three senior internationals to the club in Lucia Leon, Tessel Middag and Sabitra Bhandari.
Leon is captain of the Dominican Republic national team and arrived in Wellington after as stellar debut season at Adelaide United. Middag, meanwhile is a decorated 44-cap Netherlands international and Nepalese forward Bhandari, nicknamed ‘Samba’, is a goalscoring phenomenon.
Bhandari has scored 66 goals in 60 international appearances for Nepal. Keep an eye on ‘Samba’ this season as a genuine contender for the Ninja A-League Golden Boot.
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Reigning Premiers Melbourne City have strengthened significantly with some eye-catching international acquisitions of their own – highlighted by the arrival of former Everton captain Danielle Turner.
Signed directly from Aston Villa, the defender spent 15 years at Everton and captained the English club in 2017 before a move to Villa where she made 71 appearances over three seasons andwon the FA Women’s Super League Goal of the Season award in 2023.
City also have Nigerian international Chinaza Uchendu to call on this season. Uchendu represented the Super Falcons at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and has played club football in Portugal, Sweden, South Korea, Nigeria and Turkey.
Brisbane Roar fans will be excited to see head coach Alex Smith unleash Dutch forward Bente Jansen in the Ninja A-League this season; the 26-year-old spent the past two seasons at Dutch giants Ajax where she won the Dutch Cup and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Now, Jensen calls Brisbane home – as does United States duo Josie Studer and Marianna Seidl.
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Melbourne Victory have Kennedy White in attack this season; the 25-year-old United States forward joined Victory from Hungarian First Division side Győr ETO FC, where she notched 32 goals and 17 assists last season alone.
Crossing the Big Blue divide, Sydney FC are a new-look outfit this season and their overseas signings are excitement machines. Canadian-born Haitian international forward Laurie-Ann Moïse is a star on the rise, while 28-year-old American forward Jodi Ulkekul looms as a dangerous goal threat for the Sky Blues – as does Panama international Riley Tanner, who recently took on the Matildas in July’s friendly series in Western Australia.
FULL FIXTURES:Â Every match of the Ninja A-League 25-26 season here
DERBY DATES:Â The matches to circle in your calendar now
FIRST 5 FIXTURES: Your Ninja A-League team’s start to the 2025-26 season
FINALS SERIES:Â 2025-26 structure and dates
In Western Sydney, meanwhile, the Wanderers return to action bolstered by the acquisition of Chinese duo Wang Ying, a defender with international pedigree, and Yuan Cong, an emerging attacking talent, from Guangdong.
Then, there are the overseas stars familiar to Ninja A-League fans returning for another crack at silverware in 2025-26.
American-born Adelaide United forward Erin Healy finished second in the Julie Dolan Medal count last season on debut in the Ninja A-League; she’s since received the first senior international call-up of her career with the Republic of Ireland, being eligible to represent the nation through her grandfather.
Englishwoman Fiona Worts will join Healy in spearheading an exciting Adelaide attack; Worts scored 11 goals last season to finish fourth in the Golden Boot count.
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Momo Hayashi is another excitement machine to look out for in her second Ninja A-League campaign, returning to Brisbane Roar where she lit up the league with a catalogue of long-range bangers last season.
American defender Taylor Otto will once again be the rock at the heart of Melbourne City’s defence this season, while fit-again US striker Gabby Hollar could run riot for Perth Glory after blood clots prevented her from continuing her 2024-25 campaign in which she bagged three goals in 13 games.
The wait is almost over; you can see the Ninja A-League’s incredible array of international talent on show from Friday, October 31 when Round 1 gets underway.
