Matildas players overseas: How many Australia stars play in top leagues in Europe? | Sporting News Australia

The Matildas are currently the darlings of the Australian sport world, selling out almost every game they have played on home soil since the beginning of 2023.

Having made the semifinals of the World Cup and qualified for a third Olympics campaign in a row, they are also one of the premier nations in the world of women’s football.

This has been recognised by a number of their players 

The Sporting News compares the Matildas and the Socceroos, looking at how many players in each side are playing in top leagues around the world.

MORE: Matildas squad for Paris Olympics | Who will replace Sam Kerr at Olympics?

How many Matildas play overseas?

In the 22-player squad for the upcoming Paris Olympics, only three players are currently contracted in the local A-League Women’s, with the rest plying their trade in other corners of the globe.

Cult hero Cortnee Vine – who scored the winning penalty in the quarter-final win over France last year – was the leading lady in the A-League Women last season, but recently departed Sydney FC for the USA’s NWSL, signing for the North Carolina Courage.

This means only Michelle Heyman, Tameka Yallop and Sharn Freier – a reserve player – still play their club football in Australia.

This is the same number as seen in the 2020 Olympics, with Cooney-Cross most notably still playing at the Melbourne Victory.

Which Matildas players are at top clubs?

What has changed in recent years is the amount of Matildas featuring regularly at the biggest clubs in Europe; this contrasts with the 2019 World Cup, where Australia had no Women’s Super League (WSL) players, and only two players playing in Europe.

Sam Kerr moved to Chelsea at the end of that year, whilst Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley soon joined Arsenal, with both clubs fighting at the top of the WSL table.

Kerr in particular has become a Chelsea legend, winning countless individual and team honours, and recently signing a two-year contract extension with the Blues.

Ellie Carpenter then switched the USA for France, joining superpower Lyon, where she has won domestic and European competitions, whilst Mary Fowler moved to Montpellier and more recently Manchester City, where she plays alongside Alanna Kennedy.

In more recent times, Teagan Micah secured a move to Liverpool, and Clare Hunt’s whirlwind rise to Matildas starter has seen her move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Leagues featuring Matildas players

There are currently seven league competitions where Matildas players who have been named in a squad in the last year are currently playing.

England’s WSL features the most, with 14 Matildas currently playing in the competition, whilst America’s NWSL and the French Premiere Ligue has three players.

Within the last 12 months, seven players from the domestic A-League Women’s side have played for the Matildas or been named in a squad or training camp.

When is the Matildas’ next match?

At the time of writing, the Matildas next match will be a final warm-up match before the Olympics agains Canada

The game will be played in Spain, where both teams are based in pre-tournament training, and will be played behind closed doors on Sunday June 14.

Kick off is at 5 am AEST and the match will be shown on Paramount+.