Seven Matildas will ply their trade in Australia this year after two more stars sealed transfers on Wednesday.
Matildas centurion Kyah Simon made a shock return to the club where she began her professional career – the Central Coast Mariners.
The 32-year-old has signed from Women’s Super League club Tottenham, where she spent two seasons but suffered a torn ACL in October 2022. She scored three times in 16 appearances for the club, before her unfortunate injury.
The 111-cap Matildas attacker with 29 international goals was a member of the Matildas’ World Cup squad this year – her second tournament – but did not play due to a lack of fitness.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and start streaming instantly >
“I’m really pleased to have signed for Central Coast and to be back here in Australia playing in the A-League. Mariners being my first A-League club in the inaugural season, they’ve always held a special place in my heart and it’s a real full circle moment for me,” Simon said in a club statement.
“The closer I came to this decision, the more it felt right for a number of reasons, coming off a really difficult 10 or so months it was a priority of mine to be somewhere I felt supported and to be in an environment surrounded by the best medical care and resources. I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with the girls and hopefully can help the team in any way I can in making this season a special and memorable one.”
After her maiden season with the Mariners in 2008 saw her score five times in nine league appearances, Simon also played for Sydney FC and Melbourne City in Australia, the Boston Breakers and Houston Dash in the USA, and PSV in the Netherlands.
Simon is the second Matildas player to sign for an A-League Women’s club on Friday, after Emily Gielnik also quit the Women’s Super League for a return down under.
Gielnik, who was at Aston Villa, returns to Melbourne Victory to partner fellow Matildas Lydia Williams and Elise Kellond-Knight at the club where Gielnik won the ALW Premiership in 2018/19.
The 31-year-old previously also played for Brisbane Roar in Australia, Liverpool in England, Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan, Avaldsnes IL in Norway, Bayern Munich in Germany, and Vittsjo GIK in Sweden in a globetrotting career.
54-cap international Gielnik told the club website: “I’m excited to be back at Victory and working with Jeff and the team for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to get started.
“I had a great experience during my first stint at the Club, winning Victory’s first Premiership in the A-League Women’s competition, and I’m looking forward to achieving more success with the squad this season.”
The other veteran Matildas currently in the A-League are Chloe Logarzo at Western United, Cortnee Vine at Sydney FC, and Tameka Yallop at Brisbane Roar.
A number of fringe Matildas also play in Australia, including a host at Melbourne Victory – Beattie Goad, Jamilla Rankin, Emma Checker, Jessika Nash and Rachel Lowe.
