Melbourne City FC is delighted to announce the signing of Westfield Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter ahead of the Westfield W-League 2019/20 season.

The Australian international joins the Club on a one-year loan deal from National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Portland Thorns.

The 19-year-old has earned 35 caps for the national team, where she has played an influential role at right-back. At just 15, Carpenter became the first player born in the 21st century to play for the Australian national team when she made her debut against Vietnam in 2016.

Melbourne City FC Director of Football, Michael Petrillo said: “We are extremely pleased to have a player of Ellie’s calibre on board for the upcoming W-League season.”

“To be able to bring a young but experienced regular Matilda into our squad gives us a tremendous boost ahead of the season.

“Ellie brings experience beyond her years and is a very intelligent footballer that utilises her great endurance, speed and ability to perform under pressure.”

Speaking on her signing, Carpenter said: “I’m looking forward to a new challenge and the opportunity to further develop my game at Melbourne City FC.”

“It’s important to be surrounded by a number of internationals, including several of my Matildas teammates, so I can continue to move forwards as a footballer and be challenged week in and week out.

“I’m extremely excited to see what the season will bring and can’t wait to get started.”

Carpenter has made a habit of creating history throughout her career. She was the youngest Australian Olympian at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the youngest ever female footballer to compete at the Olympic Games.

At 18 year’s old, she became the youngest player to start an NWSL match when she made her debut for Portland Thorns in 2018. The star fullback continued to impress in America, where she then became the youngest goal scorer in the competition’s history.

Carpenter is widely regarded as one of the country’s most talented players and is set to bolster Head Coach Rado Vidosic’s defensive stocks as the Club seeks a return to playing finals football.

The New South Wales-born defender made her W-League debut for Western Sydney Wanderers between 2015-17 (23 appearances), before switching to Canberra United in 2017 (21 appearances, five goals). During her time at Canberra, Carpenter made her mark in the competition, showcasing her ability work tirelessly down the wing as well as cover her defensive duties.

The 19-year-old fullback arrives at Melbourne following a strong 2019, where she made her FIFA Women’s World Cup debut and continued her impressive run of form in America.

Carpenter joins fellow Australian internationals, Emily van Egmond, Kyah Simon, Emma Checker, Sofia Sakalis, Nia Stamatopoulos and Chelsea Blissett, to commit to the Club ahead of the Westfield W-League 2019/20 season.

Melbourne City FC’s Westfield W-League 2019/20 squad to date: Melissa Barbieri, Ellie Carpenter, Emma Checker, Emily Van Egmond, Chelsea Blissett, Sofia Sakalis, Nia Stamatopoulos, Tyla-Jay Vlajnic, Kyah Simon.