A-League A-Leagues Men and Women 2024/25 Off Season Thread

[Munga]

 

[gaskin]

Dynamic midfielder pens two-year deal with Glory

Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that former Australia Under-23 international midfielder Nicholas Pennington has joined the club on a two-year deal. Now 25, Pennington has chalked up more than 60 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances since debuting for Wellington Phoenix...

perthglory.com.au

 

[giggler99]

 

[giggler99]

hope he isn't on marquee status

 

[Zidane98]

hope he isn't on marquee status

Odds on a yellow card in the first 10 mins of his debut?

 

[acm21]

Shocking

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Kisnorbo confirmed as the new Victory manager.

 

[CakeEater]

Kisnorbo confirmed as the new Victory manager.

Thought he was in France with the Citeh group?

 

[gaskin]

He got sacked a while ago, IIRC.

 

[CakeEater]

He got sacked a while ago, IIRC.

My knowledge of the French Farmers league aint what it used to be.

 

[giggler99]

Quick appointment

 

[acm21]

Quick appointment

Oddly seems like it's a 1 year deal

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Thought he was in France with the Citeh group?

Got the boot from Troyes just before Christmas 2023. Troyes got relegated under him from Ligue 1, and was on course to be relegated from Ligue 2 under Kisnorbo. Troyes ended up getting relegated anyway.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Melbourne City bid farewell to four players from their A-League Women's squad that won the premiers plate but lost in the grand final to Sydney FC.

Leaving City are Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara (she was a short-term signing after City sold their original first choice keeper Lysianne Proulx to Bay FC in the NWSL in February), Young Matildas defender Naomi Chinnama (expired contract), US player Julia Grosso (exercised clause in contract to explore opportunities overseas) and Bosnian international Emina Ekic (exercised clause in contract to explore overseas opportunities.

Four Premiers Plate winners depart Melbourne City

Melbourne City FC can announce the departure of four Premiers Plate winners from the Club’s 2023/24 A-League Women’s squad.

melbournecityfc.com.au

They join NZ international striker Hannah Wilkinson, whose departure was announced in mid-June, as players leaving City in the off-season. WIlkinson scored 30 goals in 51 appearances to be the most prolific player for City in their time in the W-League/A-League Women's competitions.

Hannah Wilkinson to depart Melbourne City

After three seasons, Melbourne City Women’s all-time leading scorer, Hannah Wilkinson, will depart the Club following the conclusion of her contract.

melbournecityfc.com.au

City announced the re-signing of A-League Women's defender Taylor Otto a couple of weeks ago. Otto was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and played college football with the North Carolina Tar Heels before being drafted by Racing Louisville FC. Otto joined City in September 2023.

City defender re-commits for 2024/25

Melbourne City FC is delighted to announce the re-signing of Premiership-winning centre back, Taylor Otto, for the 2024/25 season.

melbournecityfc.com.au

 

[giggler99]

 

[giggler99]

Confirmed Glory sign David Zdrilic

 

[CakeEater]

Confirmed Glory sign David Zdrilic

He'll be handy up front with Tags, oh.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Melbourne City have replaced NZ international striker Hannah Wilkinson with Venezuelan international Mariana Speckmaier, who played for the Wellington Phoenix last season. Speckmaier scored 10 goals in 21 games for the Phoenix and rejected a new contract from the Phoenix in favour of signing with Melbourne City. Speckmaier joins Alexia Apostolakis as new signings for Melbourne City in the off-season.

Apostolakis has 42 appearances in the A-League Women's competition for Western Sydney Wanderers and joins City on a two-year contract. Apostolakis has played for the Young Matildas at the Under-20 World Cup in 2022 and the U-20 Asian Cup earlier this year. Apostolakis could play for City in the middle of defence or as a full-back.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Current transfers for each club in the A-League Women's competition.

Adelaide United:

Ins: Nil
Outs: Hannah Blake, Annabel Haffenden, Jenna Holtz, Alana Jancevski, Mariah Lee, Rosetta Taylor, Grace Wilson, Maruschka Waldus
Re-signings: Nil

Brisbane Roar:

Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Re-signings: N/A

Canberra United

Ins: Nil
Outs: Chloe Lincoln, Sasha Grove, Vesna Milivojevic
Re-signings: N/A

Central Coast Mariners

Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Re-signings: N/A

Melbourne City

Ins: Alexia Apostolakis (2025-2026), Mariana Speckmaier (2025-2026)
Outs: Hannah Wilkinson, Emina Ekic, Barbara, Naomi Chinnama, Julia Grosso, Daniela Galic
Re-signings: Taylor Otto (2024-2025)

Melbourne Victory

Ins: Nil
Outs: Emma Checker (retired)
Re-signings: N/A

Newcastle Jets

Ins: Nil
Outs: Gema Simon (retired), Alex Huynh (retired)
Re-signings: N/A

Perth Glory

Ins: Nil
Outs: Tash Rigby (retired), Millie Farrow (Sydney FC)
Re-signings: N/A

Sydney FC

Ins: Millie Farrow
Outs: Cortnee Vine (North Carolina Courage), Charlotte McLean (North Carolina Courage), Taylor Ray, Darcey Malone, Zara Kruger, Teigan Collister, Aideen Keane, Lucy Johnson
Re-signings: Mackenzie Hawkesby, Kirsty Fenton (2025-2026), Jordan Thompson (2024-2025)

Wellington Phoenix

Ins: Nil
Outs: Macey Fraser (Utah Royals), Grace Wisnewski, Hope Breslin, Kate Taylor, Kelli Brown, Mariana Speckmaier (Melbourne City)
Re-signings: Rebecca Lake, Emma Main

Western Sydney Wanderers

Ins: Nil
Outs: Alexia Apostolakis (Melbourne City)
Re-signings: Sophie Harding, Gemma Ferris

Western United

Ins: Chloe Lincoln, Sasha Grove
Outs: Hannah Keane, Stacey Papadopoulos
Re-signings: Kahli Johnson

 

[giggler99]

Not good

 

[apollo_creed]

The North Korean economy is a better oiled, higher functioning machine than them.

 

[burge13]

Not good

Fat lady is warming up the vocal chords, it's almost over for the a-league.

Perth was losing money when owned/run by the league, Newcastle the same. $500k won't cover the losses for many clubs so what happens then

 

[gaskin]

It could very well be the death of the league and I wouldn't be surprised if it goes under in the next 5 years if there is no serious change.

 

[errant bounce]

I think 90% of followers wanted the independent league and I never ever understood why. the Premier League did it with billions of Sky TV pounds and 100 year old clubs and a captive audience; we tried doing it with half the league without owners.

The game basically lives and mooches off the federal government and was literally set up by a federal government report and its recommendations.

Absolutely moronic. the Matildas, the Socceroos, they're as popular as they've ever been and the A-League's television rights could have been tailing off that.

Then again half the experts on reddit also think we need a second division...

 

[The Tilt]

I think 90% of followers wanted the independent league and I never ever understood why. the Premier League did it with billions of Sky TV pounds and 100 year old clubs and a captive audience; we tried doing it with half the league without owners.

The game basically lives and mooches off the federal government and was literally set up by a federal government report and its recommendations.

Absolutely moronic. the Matildas, the Socceroos, they're as popular as they've ever been and the A-League's television rights could have been tailing off that.

Then again half the experts on reddit also think we need a second division...

Yeah, one of the challenges Australian soccer has is that many of its supporters view English/European soccer as a kind of Platonic form that the local game should strive to resemble in every way. Hence, they want(ed) an independent league; promotion and relegation; boutique soccer-specific venues (preferably owned by clubs themselves) etc etc. It can be hard to bring them to see how unrealistic all of it is.

The planned second division is interesting. It looks like the current level of interest in club soccer in Australia is struggling to meet what's needed to sustain the existing 12 fully professional clubs. Hard to see how 25 to 30 is going to work.