Melbourne City has signalled its 2018-19 season intent, bolstering its line-up further with five more talented players, hungry for success.
After securing the signatures of a handful of experienced Matildas, Head Coach Rado Vidosic has now added fellow Matilda, Lydia Williams in addition to Americans, Lauren Barnes and Jasmyne Spencer, Brit, Jodie Taylor and Danish superstar, Theresa Nielsen.
With his roster nearing completion, Head Coach, Rado Vidosic is confident his Melbourne City squad has what it takes to battle it out at the top of the ladder.
“We’ve already secured an enviable list of new and re-signed players, and these five will give us the push needed to compete for the title,” said Vidosic.
New to the Westfield W-League for 2018-19, Danish international defender, Theresa Nielsen, joins City with a long list of previous honours. Boasting 121 Denmark caps, Nielsen was named in the Best XI at UEFA Women’s Euro 2017, in addition to winning multiple Elitedivisionen titles and Danish Women’s Cups while with Brondby IF. Nielsen joins having completed a season in the US with Seattle Reign.
With over 70 Matildas caps to her name, experienced goalkeeper, Lydia Williams returns to Melbourne City following the close of the US based Women’s National Soccer League. Having won W-League Goalkeeper of the year in 2016-17, Williams’ experience and relationship with key Seattle Reign teammates, Steph Catley, Theresa Nielsen and Lauren Barnes – who has also re-signed with City – will help form one of City’s strongest defences yet.
Barnes, having also completed the recent season in the US with Seattle Reign, returns to Melbourne looking to add to the 26 appearances and two titles she has won while with City.
Another new signing from Reign, American, Jasmyne Spencer promises to add some attacking flair and bite to City’s forward line. With experience playing in Australia, Denmark and the US, the New York native has proven she can make an impact on the field wherever she plays.
Vidosic’s final signing is UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 Best XI player and Golden Boot winner, Jodie Taylor. An influential match-winning attacker, Taylor returns to Melbourne as a guest player, with an enviable scoring record at clubs including Arsenal, Seattle Reign and the England national side.
“Theresa will bring international experience to the group after a lot of success in Europe and on international stage. She’s seen it all before and has been competing at an elite level for a number of years,” said Vidosic.
“With Williams and Barnes, not to mention Steph Catley, there’s already a good team dynamic at play from their time together in Seattle, so we’re confident they can all hit the ground running.”
Melbourne City FC’s fourth Westfield W-League season kicks off against Canberra United at McKellar Park in the capital on 28 October.
