Our Matildas Abroad have been making moves overseas in the past month, with Jada Whyman & Remy Siemsen off to Sweden; Daniela Galic signs for FC Twente in the Netherlands while defender Jamilla Rankin has joined TSG Hoffenheim in the Frauen-Bundesliga. While in England, Charlie Rule signed a new deal with Brighton & Hove Albion that will see her extend her time with the Seagulls in the WSL.
Read all about the news below.
Jada Whyman signs for AIK Fotboll
Jada Whyman has made the move to AIK Fotboll in Sweden, signing her first overseas contract after spending the last nine years in the Liberty A-League Women's. The move comes after Whyman helped Sydney FC to back-to-back Championships and was named to three PFA Team of the Season squads.
The shot-stopper made 73 appearances for Sydney FC and kept 36 clean sheets since signing for the club ahead of the 2020/21 season. She will be looking to build on this success as she makes the move to Sweden.
Whyman joins AIK Fotboll in the Damallsvenskan, looking to help the side from Stockholm remain in the top flight after being promoted from the second division last season following their relegation at the end of the 2022 season.
"I'm really looking forward to my upcoming time in AIK and I'm looking forward to stepping out onto the football field to train and play with my new teammates," she said to aikfotboll.se.
AIK currently sit in 12th place at the halfway mark of the season in Sweden and will be fighting for all remaining points when the season kicks off again after the Summer break. The side currently sits in the relegation play-offs zone, however, will hope the signing of Whyman will help them lift for the latter half of the season.
AIK's next match in the OBOS Damallsvenskan will be played on Saturday 24th August at 11:00pm AEST when they take on Vittsjö GIK.
Remy Siemsen signs for Kristianstads DFF
Remy Siemsen makes her return to the OBOS Damallsvenskan after one season in the WSL, joining the Australian contingent at Kristianstads DFF following her departure from Leicester City in England.
Siemsen last played in Sweden in the 2022 season, making 21 appearances for AIK Fotboll and scoring three goals for the side. The forward then made the move to Leicester City in the WSL, signing for the Foxes in January 2023. Siemsen made 10 appearances for the Foxes across all competitions in her first season in England, scoring on her debut against Manchester United.
The forward made six appearances for the Foxes in the 2023/24 season, with the club announcing her departure following the end of her contract. She will link up with Amy Sayer and Clare Polkinghorne at Kristianstads DFF, reuniting with Sayer after the two played together at Sydney FC.
Kristianstads DFF currently sits in fourth place on the table with 26 points, with one game in hand at the midway point of the season in Sweden. The side are scoreless in their last two games, hoping the signing of Siemsen can help them find the back of the net.
"I'm so excited for this next chapter to represent KDFF in the Swedish league with a high-performance team. I am hoping to positively contribute to the team both on and off the pitch and I cannot wait to get started" she said to kdff.nu.
Kristianstads DFF will next be in action in the OBOS Damallsvenskan when they host Vittsjö GIK on Saturday 18th of August at 11:00pm AEST.
Charlie Rule extends her stay with Brighton & Hove Albion
Defender Charlie Rule has signed a new deal with Brighton & Hove Albion in the WSL, that will see her extend her stay with the Seagulls.
Rule made 11 appearances for Brighton last season, with injury causing the young defender to miss the majority of the season.
"We’re excited that Charlie has committed her future to the club." Former Melbourne City Coach, and incoming Brighton coach Dario Vidosic said to brightonandhovealbion.com.
Daniela Galic signs for FC Twente
Daniela Galic has joined Dutch champions FC Twente after spending the last two seasons with Melbourne City in the Liberty A-League Women's. The young midfielder makes her first move overseas after impressing at Melbourne City.
Galic was named the 2023-24 Young Footballer of the Year in the Liberty A-League and signed for FC Twente until June 2026. The midfielder's 2023/24 season in the Liberty A-League Women's saw her find the back of the net seven times and provided six assists, helping her side to the Premiership win.
“I am very happy to sign with this team and this big club,” Galic said. “From my first contact with Rene and Joran, the feeling was good. FC Twente is a big club and last season they became champions of the Netherlands. Now they will try to qualify for the Champions League. I am ready to start training and playing football.” she said to fctwente.nl.
FC Twente finished at the top of the table in the Netherlands last season, securing a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League First Qualifying Round where they will take on Cardiff City F.C. for a spot in the final of the first qualifying round.
FC Twente will be in action against Cardiff City F.C. in the UEFA Women's Champions League on Thursday the 5th of September at 3:00am AEST.
Jamilla Rankin signs for TSG Hoffenheim
Lastly, Jamilla Rankin (Cap No. 221), has made the move from Melbourne Victory to TSG Hoffenheim in the Frauen-Bundesliga, after spending the last five years in the Liberty A-League Women's after stints at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
Rankin joins TSG Hoffenheim on a three-year deal ahead of the 2024/25 season and has already made her first appearance for the side in a pre-season win over FC Nordsjælland.
TSG Hoffenheim finished fifth last season in the Frauen-Bundesliga, just 10 points shy of securing a spot in the UEFA Women's Champions League for the upcoming season.
"I'm delighted to be able to move to TSG Hoffenheim. TSG is one of the best clubs in one of the best leagues in the world. I can hardly wait to do my part to contribute to the success and be on the pitch with the team." she said to tsg-hoffenheim.de.
TSG Hoffenheim will kick off their Frauen-Bundesliga campaign against SGS Essen on Sunday the 1st of September at 10:00pm AEST.