Melbourne City and Matildas superstar Ellie Carpenter has secured a dream move to women’s footballing powerhouse, Olympique Lyonnais.
It was confirmed this morning that the 20-year-old would be departing her NWSL parent club Portland Thorns after two seasons, with Australia’s undoubted shooting star now joining the most dominant team in world football – men’s or women’s.
Olympique Lyonnais’ pedigree cannot be understated; they’ve won the last 14 French league titles and the past four Champions Leagues.
Their squad is pretty much the World XI, with the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, world-class (and probably world’s best) midfielders Dzenifer Maroszán and Amandine Henry, and a seemingly impenetrable defence boasting the likes of Wendie Renard, Saki Kumagai and Lucy Bronze, the latter of whom (2nd in the 2019 WWC Golden Ball) will serve as Carpenter’s direct competition at right-back.
Whilst Bronze is undeniably the world's premier full-back (if not world's best defender, full stop), the 28-year-old is tipped to push for a move back home to England's FAWSL.
Carpenter's is truly an unprecedented and largely incomparable move. Never has an Australian moved to a club of the relative prestige of Olympique Lyonnais in regard to their absolute stranglehold of women’s football.
The full-back dominated the 2019/20 W-League season with Melbourne City, winning the respective league and club Player of the Season awards, whilst surely a lock-in for Young Footballer of the Year also. The 20-year-old made 14 appearances, scoring two goals.
Comments