By Rachel Gore 26/1/24
Above: Charli Grant at her new home. Photo: Tottenham Hotspur
The January transfer window has brought numerous players to the WSL. Two of these players whose moves have attracted attention are Australian national team stars, Katrina Gorry and Charlotte (Charli) Grant, who had both previously been playing together in Sweden.
Over the summer the Australian women’s national team, nicknamed the Matildas, showed the world what they are capable of. The squad reached the semi-final of the Fifa women’s world cup that was held on their home turf.
Gorry and Grant, alongside Kyra Cooney-Cross, are often seen together on Australian national team camps. Therefore, it is only fitting that the pair have moved over to the WSL at the same time. They join Cooney-Cross who has been playing for Arsenal this season, having signed for the gunners in September 2023.
Katrina Gorry
Only a couple of months prior to their history making tournament last summer, a documentary aired on Disney Plus which gave an insight into the Australian team.
The episode which focused on Katrina Gorry and her journey back into the national squad, following the birth of her daughter Harper, was perhaps the most memorable.
In 2021 Gorry, nicknamed Mini by fans and teammates, gave birth to Harper and only a year later she returned to play for the Matildas, winning Player of the Match in her first game back.
At the beginning of January, Gorry completed her deal with West Ham, becoming their third signing of the 23/24 January transfer window.
The midfielder has over 100 caps for Australia and has joined West Ham following her departure from Swedish Damallsvenskan side Vittsjo GIK in November of 2023.
Prior to playing in Sweden, Gorry has played for clubs in Australia, the United States, Japan, Canada, and Norway. Her signing with West Ham marks the beginning of her first WSL stint.
Speaking on her signing, Gorry said, “The Women’s Super League is the league everyone is speaking about at the moment.”
Playing in the WSL gives Gorry the chance to test her skills against some of the best players in the world, and there is no doubt that she will rise to the challenge.
She is a talented midfielder who made the starting eleven for her first game with West Ham on 14 January.
Not only is this move going to benefit Gorry, but it is certainly going to benefit the club which is currently fighting to prevent relegation.
Rehanne Skinner, West Ham women’s first team manager, will be hoping that the addition of Gorry will lead her squad to win matches and earn points.
Aswell as this, Skinner’s squad is likely to notice an increase in fans and attention.
Gorry, and her daughter Harper, have won over the hearts of Matildas’ fans and West Ham included Harper throughout Gorry’s signing announcement.
Harper was seen sporting a West Ham kit in photos and has even been given a profile on Fantasy Football’s WSL app.
Seemingly, Gorry has immediately become a big part of the West Ham family.
Read Impetus71’s interview with Katrina Gorry here.
Charli Grant
Grant signed her contract with Tottenham Hotspur on 3 January and came on as a late substitute in the club’s second match of 2024, helping to maintain the team’s lead and securetheir 4-3 victory over West Ham.
So far, we have only seen Grant play a couple of minutes for Spurs, but her previous performances have led to excitement amongst fans.
Like Gorry, Grant featured in the Australian World Cup squad over the summer.
Grant, however, is younger than Gorry and is consequently less experienced. She is only 22 years old and made her debut for the Matildas in September 2021, scoring her first international goal just seven months later against England.Now, she has 21 caps for Australia.
Grant’s professional career began in Australia when she signed for her hometown club, Adelaide United, making her debut at the age of 17.
Then three years later, in 2021, the defender moved to Sweden to join Rosengard where she featured in 23 games. Following this, she joined Vittsjo GIK on loan in 2022. This move became permanent in August 2023.
Grant has signed with Spurs until 2026, meaning that if she stays for the duration of her contract, she will play at least three full seasons with the club.
As a young defender, experience in the WSL will be beneficial for Grant as she will face the challenge of playingagainst some of the most talented forwards. She will also have the opportunity to play in front of huge crowds in large stadiums.
Spurs currently sits in sixth position in the WSL table and the team will be hoping that the introduction of Grant can help them to end the season in the top five.
Read Impetus71’s interview with Charli Grant here.
The Aussie takeover in the WSL
Gorry and Grant are two of fourteen Matildas currently playing in the English league – Arsenal is home to three of these players with Manchester City and West Ham both having two Matildas in their squads.
There are numerous reasons why these Matildas would want to play in the WSL; its dedicated fans and quality ballersmake it a league that is bringing stars from across the globe to England.
Gorry and Grant, two of the WSL’s most recent additions, are embarking on the opportunity of a lifetime.
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