Phoenix star in A-League Women record deal
Utah Royals have smashed the A-League Women transfer record to bring Wellington Phoenix rising star Macey Fraser to the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States.
The highly-rated Football Ferns midfielder is making the move to the US after one season with the Phoenix, the club having accepted a six-figure deal for her services.
Her transfer represents a milestone for the Phoenix as it is the first time an overseas club has paid a fee to sign a player from its women’s team.
While the Phoenix remain tightlipped on the exact sum, it’s understood Fraser’s sale comfortably tops the rumoured NZ$100,000 Bay FC spent to sign Canadian goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx from Melbourne City in February.
That broke the previous record for an outbound transfer set days earlier when another City player, Matildas fullback Kaitlyn Torpey, made the switch to San Diego Wave for a reported NZ$75,000.
“This is a red-letter day for Macey and the club,” Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill said. “She’s been one of the best talents in New Zealand for several years and it’s great the Phoenix have been able to help her realise that potential.
“We wish her all the best at the Royals and we look forward to helping our other players realise their footballing dreams abroad.”
Although she has long been considered one of the brightest talents in New Zealand, it was only when Paul Temple, her former academy coach, took over as Phoenix first-team coach that Fraser was given an opportunity to showcase her skills at a professional level.
Confident on the ball, it did not take long for the 21-year-old midfielder to establish herself as one of the most exciting young players in the A-League Women.
Fraser scored three goals and laid on a team-high five assists during a breakout first season for the Phoenix.
She scored an eye-catching goal in a 3-0 rout of Western Sydney Wanderers in just her second game after faking to shoot and then hitting a sweet strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Fraser added to her highlights reel when she scored a goal-of-the-season contender by bending a free-kick into the top corner in a 3-1 win over Western United in round four.
The Canterbury product made her senior international football debut against Tonga during the Football Ferns’ Olympic qualifiers in Samoa this year.
She had previously represented New Zealand at under-17 and under-20 levels, helping the Young Football Ferns create history with a bronze medal at the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay in 2018.
Football Ferns captain Ali Riley, who plays for Angel City in the NWSL, recently described Fraser as “the full package” following her performance in an emphatic 4-0 win over Thailand.
“I think the future is so bright for her. She’s going to be a huge part of this team [the Football Ferns],” Riley said. “She’s the full package and she is so exciting to watch. That’s the style of football we want to play.”
Fraser is the second young Football Fern to make the jump from the A-League Women to the NWSL – one of the premier leagues in women’s football – this year, following Milly Clegg’s recent move to Racing Louisville.
The Utah Royals currently sit 13th in the 14-team competition after the club was revived by the owners of the Real Salt Lake Major League Soccer franchise.