Melbourne City FC star Holly McNamara will depart the Club after five seasons, with the Matildas striker set to pursue opportunities overseas.
Since arriving at City in September 2021, McNamara has established herself as one of the most exciting attacking talents in Australian football.
The 23-year-old leaves the Club as Melbourne City’s all-time leading Women’s goalscorer, having scored 45 goals in just 66 appearances.
Beyond her goalscoring record, McNamara’s time at City was defined by the resilience and determination she displayed in overcoming significant setbacks. Having already overcome one anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury before joining City, she suffered further ACL injuries during the 2021/22 and 2023/24 seasons.
Despite those setbacks, McNamara returned stronger on each occasion to establish herself as one of the Ninja A-League’s premier forwards and a regular in the Matildas squad.
Since making her senior international debut at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, McNamara has made 19 appearances for Australia and scored two international goals.
McNamara claimed back-to-back Ninja A-League Golden Boots, was named Young Footballer of the Year in 2022, and helped City secure three Premierships and one Championship.
She shared Melbourne City’s Player of the Year honour with Hannah Wilkinson in 2021/22 and claimed the Club Golden Boot in each of the past two seasons.
McNamara also made her mark on the continental stage, starring throughout City’s AFC Women’s Champions League campaigns. She scored five goals in eight appearances and finished as this year tournament’s leading goalscorer.
McNamara scored four hat-tricks during her time at City, the most by any player in Melbourne City Women’s history, underlining her ability to deliver in the biggest moments.
Melbourne City FC Director of Football Michael Petrillo paid tribute to McNamara’s contribution across five memorable seasons at the Club.
“The resilience and determination Holly has shown to overcome the setbacks she has faced perfectly illustrate why she has the right mindset to reach the very top level.
“She has been an incredibly important part of the success of our Women’s team since her arrival and has helped us continue to set the standards both on and off the pitch.
“We wish her all the very best as she prepares to take the next step in her career and explore opportunities overseas.”
Reflecting on her five seasons at Melbourne City, McNamara thanked everyone who played a part in her journey.
“It’s definitely bittersweet to be leaving a Club that has meant so much to me over the past five years, but I feel ready for the next chapter in my career.
“When I first joined City as a teenager, I never imagined everything we’d go on to achieve together. I’m so grateful to everyone at the Club who has supported me throughout the journey, especially through some of the tougher moments.
“Rado gave me my first opportunity at the Club and had a huge belief in me from day one, while Dario and Michael have played such important roles in my development both as a player and person.
“To my teammates, coaches, staff and the fans who have supported me through the highs and lows, thank you. I’ll always be incredibly proud of what we achieved together at Melbourne City.”
