Melbourne City FC’s newest signing, American forward Beverly Yanez, made a seamless transition into City’s Westfield W-League team in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar – despite only arriving in the country last Thursday.
Yanez, 28, entered the match as a second-half substitute for Amy Jackson, featuring for the first time since joining on a season-long loan from Seattle Reign FC, and didn’t look out of place.
The transition was no doubt more comfortable given the American striker featured alongside fellow Seattle teammates Jess Fishlock and Lauren Barnes, with the trio having previously played an integral part of a Reign FC side which claimed back-to-back National Women’s Soccer League shields in 2014 and 2015.
Yanez expressed her delight at how quickly she had settled into a City side which has set the benchmark for performance and professionalism in the Westfield W-League.
“I’m really excited to be here,” Yanez said. “The team, the facilites and the staff is all top notch so it has been such a great experience so far and I’m really looking forward to the rest of my time here.”
“I really enjoy the way this team plays. I’ve had a fantastic time this week and a half learning the tactical and technical side of the game that we are trying to play.”
“Having Jess and Lauren here has helped me get into my comfort zone. They’re such great people and they’re really good friends to me so the adjustment has been a little bit easier than normal. I just love the way they play so I am looking forward to playing with them again.”
When it comes to training facilities, Yanez believes the Clubs’ new Elite Women’s Training facility is unlike anything she has ever experienced.
“It’s top notch,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like it before to be honest. I got here and I was so shocked and I think it’s amazing that women have an opportunity to have these kind of facilities. I think it’s great.”
A prolific centre-forward, Yanez featured in all 20 matches for Seattle Reign during the 2016 NWSL season, scoring three goals and registering three assists.
The versatile attacker has excelled during playing stints Japan, Europe and the United States, playing for INAC Kobe Leonessa in the Nadeshiko.League PK-35 in Finland’s Naisten Liiga, as well as the Western New York Flash and the Washington Freedom in the United States.
Yanez will be in line to make her home debut for the Club when Melbourne City FC takes on Canberra United in a blockbuster Westfield W-League clash at CB Smith Reserve on Saturday.
Both sides will be competing for the inaugural Westfield W-League edition of the Blue Ribbon Cup, which perpetuates the memory of Victoria Police members killed in the line of duty through the support of worthwhile community projects by the Blue Ribbon Foundation.
