Seattle Reign’s star duo Jessica Fishlock and Kim Little become Melbourne City’s first official international signings for their inaugural W-League season, set to kick-off this weekend.
The news was made official by the Seattle Reign this morning despite rumours linking Fishlock with the club since the beginning of the Australian pre-season.
The 28-year-old Welsh superstar is one of the most recognisable names in women’s football and her signature is somewhat of a coup for the newly established outfit.
The majestic midfielder’s last stint in Australia was with city rivals Melbourne Victory, where she enjoyed a guest stint in the 2012-13 season, before returning for the 2013-14 campaign under the stewardship of Dave Edmondson.
She amassed a total of eight goals and two assists from her 19 starts this season in USA’s National Women’s Soccer League and is a global superstar with 28 goals from 87 appearances with the Welsh national team.
Little – in her own right a star of women’s football – finished as the Reign’s top scorer for 2015, with a total of 10 strikes and seven assists playing just behind the strikers.
The Scottish international – having already featured over 100 times for the Senior National Team – will add plenty of creativity and a genuine goal threat running through from midfield for City in her first ever stint in the W-League.
The 25-year-old enjoyed stints at local club Hibernian – where she netted an astounding 88 goals from 48 appearances – and Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women’s Super League – 81 goals, 93 games – in a distinguished career to date.
Expected to join them in an international capacity is Heidelberg United and Mexican international forward Anisa Guajardo, who has been with the club since the beginning of pre-season, playing the interesting role of marauding fullback in City’s practice match against the NTC last week.