Melbourne City FC is pleased to announce Seattle Reign FC duo Kim Little and Jess Fishlock have joined the Club as inaugural international signings, ahead of the Westfield W-League 2015-16 Season.
Regarded as two of the best talents in women’s football, the pair will extend Head Coach Joe Montemurro’s playing squad to a total of 15 players, including Matildas Steph Catley, Lisa Devanna and Laura Alleway.
Fishlock joins on a season loan from Seattle, which competes in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), the top tier of women’s football in America, while Reign teammate Little signs as the Club’s W-League marquee until February 2016.
Both players will be available for City’s round three clash against Perth Glory on Saturday 31 October.
Capped 87 times by the Welsh National Team, Fishlock returns to the W-League after previously featuring in two separate stints in the W-League with Melbourne Victory.
As one of the most decorated players to feature in the Australian domestic competition, the four-time Player of the Year with Wales’ national team, has since added the 2014 European Champions League to her resume, playing an integral role with German side FFC Frankfurt.
Starting her career with Cardiff City Ladies, the central midfielder had a successful tenure across the United Kingdom and Europe, winning a number of personal honours. The 28-year-old then made the switch to parent club Seattle, lifting the NSWL title in 2014.
Fishlock will also assume a role as Assistant Coach alongside Head Coach Montemurro.
Little, a veteran of 108 appearances for Scotland at just 25, has an equally impressive resume, having spent almost a decade in Europe’s top flight, commencing her international career at just 16 years of age.
During her time with first club – Hibernian Ladies in Scotland – Little won the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) championship, Scottish Cup and Premier League Cup, before earning a deal with FA Women’s Super League outfit Arsenal Ladies.
Having scored an incredible 88 goals in 48 appearances for Hibernian, Little then enjoyed a successful five-year period with Arsenal, which also produced further silverware, including a FA Women’s Super League title and two FA Women’s Cups, scoring 81 goals in 93 matches.
In 2013 Little was voted as the PFA’s Women’s Players’ Player of the Year, before winning NWSL Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards the following season with Seattle.
Montemurro said he was delighted to have secured the services of two high-calibre internationals for the 2015/16 season.
“Jess and Kim are exceptional players and we are delighted to have them join Melbourne City in our inaugural W-League season,” Montemurro said.
“They will not only contribute on the field with their experience and ability, but off the field their presence will be enormous for many of our younger players.”
