[ad_1]
Mark Brake/Getty Images
Wellington Phoenix striker Milly Clegg is linking up with Western Sydney.
Wellington Phoenix have lost their most promising young player.
Football Ferns rising star Milly Clegg will not be returning for a second season with the Phoenix after rejecting a new offer to instead sign with A-League Women rivals Western Sydney Wanderers for 2023-24.
At 17, Clegg is the youngest player in the Football Ferns’ FIFA Women’s World Cup squad.
Her selection came after Clegg represented New Zealand at both the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup tournaments, made her Football Ferns debut and finished her first A-League season as the Phoenix’s top scorer with four goals during a breakout 12-month period.
CHRIS MCKEEN/STUFF
Breakout star of the Phoenix season is presented with her Football Ferns shirt by her parents at Eden Park.
Clegg played for free at the Phoenix in order to retain her NCAA eligibility should she wish to play college football in the United States in the future.
Director of football Shaun Gill said she was presented with numerous options for next season, including a multi-year profession contract, but informed the club last month that she would not be returning for another year.
On Tuesday, after coming off the bench in the Football Ferns’ 2-0 win over Vietnam in their final World Cup warm-up match on Monday, Clegg’s move to Western Sydney was confirmed.
Her departure is a big blow for incoming coach Paul Temple, who has set his sights on the top-six after back-to-back wooden spoon finishes under previous coaches Gemma Lewis and Natalie Lawrence.
”She was one of the first ones on the list when Temps got the job that we wanted to go after and try to re-sign,” Gill said.
“We spoke with her and her father at length on a number of occasions but nearly a month ago now we were advised that she would not be signing with us and would be exploring other options.”
The young striker played primarily on the wing in her first season with the Phoenix, but Gill said she wanted guarantees regarding which position she would play, which the club was not willing to entertain.
On signing for Western Sydney, Clegg said: “I’m really excited to join Western Sydney Wanderers and be based in a professional environment overseas.
“I enjoyed my first season in the A-Leagues with Wellington Phoenix and learnt a lot from the experience. I can’t wait to take on this new challenge.
“The Wanderers is a great opportunity for me. I love scoring goals and hope to be adding to this next season with Western Sydney.”
Clegg’s departure will leave the Phoenix with another hole to fill up front with striker Ava Pritchard, the scorer of the team’s first-ever goal, not offered a new deal after two seasons with the club.
Temple has previously signalled his intention is to look overseas to sign a proven goalscorer.
The Phoenix have six players locked in for next season; Chloe Knott, Alyssa Whinham, Emma Main, Michaela Robertson, Mackenzie Barry and Marisa van der Meer.
Gill said re-signing off-contract Football Ferns left-back Michaela Foster – their top performer last season – was high priority, but he expected there to be plenty of competition for her services as well.
[ad_2]