Yesterday, Melbourne City announced the signing of midfielder Leticia McKenna on a two-year deal, continuing a trend of securing emerging talents on multi-year contracts.
McKenna, who made her debut as a 16-year-old for Perth Glory, is described by City as an attacking midfielder with impressive technical ability.
“Leticia will provide creativity in the front third and is a hard-working player both in and out of possession,” Women’s manager Rado Vidosic also described of the now 19-year-old.
McKenna burst onto the scene with the Glory in 2018/19, netting two goals and providing three assists in a debut season that culminated in a Grand Final appearance against Sydney FC.
This form thrust her name into national team considerations, with the youngster discussed as a potential 2019 World Cup squad bolter in a stacked midfield group.
Though McKenna’s offensive contributions slowed down in 2019/20, her club form with Perth was enough to secure a move to A-League Women’s big-hitters Brisbane Roar ahead of the most recent campaign.
In a season where the Roar were one of the competition’s dominant forces, McKenna held her own in a stacked squad and made 12 appearances, including seven starts.
In regard to her role within the City squad, it will be interesting to see how she and fellow attacking midfielder Rhianna Pollicina are utilised in midfield. At 24, Pollicina is the more experienced in terms of years in the game, but not in regard to top-flight appearances – McKenna doubles her counterpart on that front.
Given only three specialist midfielders older than 18 have been signed thus far (with the returning Leah Davidson as the third), there is yet to be reason for one of the aforementioned pair to miss out.
In recruiting McKenna on a two-year deal, Melbourne City has again tied down another of Australia’s promising talents to add to its young – though capable – squad which the club will hope can return it to regular Finals football over the coming seasons.
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