Melbourne City FC is pleased to announce Matildas defender Laura Alleway has re-signed with the Club ahead of the Westfield W-League 2016/17 season.
Alleway returned to Melbourne this week following the conclusion of her National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) spell in the United States, where she represented Orlando Pride.
The 26-year-old joined her teammates at the Brighton Girls Gala day on Sunday, where the Club’s W-League squad ran football clinics for young girls aged 5-16 from Brighton Soccer Club.
Alleway made nine appearances for Orlando during the club’s inaugural NWSL season, featuring alongside City captain and Matildas teammate Steph Catley.
The defender also made her Olympic debut for Australia at Rio 2016, scoring one goal as the Matildas suffered a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat to host nation Brazil in the Quarter Finals.
Alleway played an integral role in the Club’s historic W-League triumph, making 11 appearances as Joe Montemurro’s side became the first team to win a Premiership and Championship double without losing a single match.
Head Coach Montemurro said: “I’m delighted to work with Laura again this season. She played an important role in our success last campaign and her leadership and experience will help us maintain a solid foundation in defence. “
Alleway is determined to carry on the momentum gained from a record-breaking season into the upcoming W-League campaign.
“We’re not going to aim low, we’re going to keep our standards high,” she said. “If we can do it one year then we can do it back to back. Our goal is to get though the first game and then aspire to win every match onwards.”
“I’m stoked to be back. Hopefully we can do what we did last year and come back with another big, big season.”
Alleway’s return follows the arrival of new signings Lydia Williams, Teigen Allen and Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, and the re-signing of foundation players Catley, Larissa Crummer, Rebekah Stott, Marianna Tabain, Amy Jackson, Olivia Ellis, Tyla-Jay Vlajnic and Melina Ayres.
City begins its W-League title defence against Newcastle Jets at CB Smith Reserve on Sunday 6 November.
