By Kieran Yap 22/1/25
Above: Sharn Freier (left) and Laini Freier for Brisbane Roar. Photo: Brisbane Roar
Sharn Freier spoke to the media following the announcement she will be joining Wolfsburg at the end of the season.
The Brisbane Roar and Matildas attacker has been signed by the European giants, but will remain in Australia to complete the Roar’s current campaign. The move continues the exciting rise of the Queenslander who has gone from the A-League and NPLW to the Olympics to the Fraun Bundesliga in the space of 12 months.
Brisbane COO Zac Anderson was thrilled for Freier and The Roar who will receive a club record fee for a women’s player, although he emphasised that the exact number would remain undisclosed.
“It’s been an amazing journey for Sharn,” said Anderson to the media.
“We are super excited for the club to make this announcement.
“Full credit to a number of people. Obviously firstly to Sharn and her dedication to keep growing and keep developing her game, but also to the man on her right Alex Smith who has helped her over the last 18 months to progress her game.
“Theres a bigger story here for Australian Football. We’ve got one of our own, a Brisbane product who has come through the NPLS system into the professional ranks.
“We are just really proud to announce Sharn’s move to Wolfsburg and we’re looking forward to seeing Sharn’s journey as she makes the move in July.”
Frier in her her fourth season with Brisbane after initially joining the club in 2020. Her impact gradually increased over the following season’s culminating in her playing 22 games in 2023/24 and scoring three goals.
The stats do not to her justice though. Freier is an aggressive, unpredictable and dangerous winger whose dribbling style and explosive pace can put defenders off balance and leave them hesitant to make a challenge. She gives herself time on the ball and uses it to create havoc either from the start or off the bench. Freier’s performances for the national team have seen her compared to Cortnee Vine and Hayley Raso, and she was dominant in the last national team match against Chinese Taipei.
Despite her obvious talent, Freier is taking nothing for granted. She was a much pursued player and fielded offers after the Olympics, but knows she will have to prove herself at one of the world’s top clubs.
“I’m just going over there to give it everything I’ve got,” Frier told the media.
“I don’t really expect anything to be honest. I know it’s going to be a very big challenge for me.
“Obviously it’s the next level… I’m just going to put my head down and work hard. If I get game time that is the goal, but I’ll put my head down, work hard and see what happens.”
Finishing the season with Brisbane was something Frier felt strongly about. Not only are The Roar in strong trophy contention this season, but for the first time she has been able to play professionally with her sister Laini. The twins have combined for nine goals in the first half of this season. In the meantime Frier can focus on success in the current campaign and begin German lessons.
“Wolfsburg were very accommodating to that,” said Freier.
“I think the season we’ve had so far and this team we’ve got at the club are very special.
“I got to play with her (Laini) for the first time and I didn’t really want to cut that short.
“We’ve got a really good team here… hopefully we could go all the way . I want to be a part of that so I’m really grateful I get to stay and make the move after.
“I’m just trying to push myself a little bit further and see what happens when I get to the Bundesliga.”
A move to Italy was a possibility following the Paris Olympics, but Freier was hesitant to take the leap. Instead she was signed to a two year deal by Brisbane which has ended up netting the club a transfer fee. Something still rare but increasing in the A-League Women. Anderson said that the club intented to reinvest that fee into the women’s program.
“I wanted to take my time,” reflects Freier.
“It’s quite a big move, I’ve never done something like this before, I wanted to make sure it was perfect and Wolfsburg was definitely hitting that and I was obviously very excited about it… I couldn’t turn it down.”
Brisbane Roar coach Alex Smith is a strong promotor of Queensland Women’s football. The Former Peninsula Power coach and Melbourne City assistant says that the talent was obvious when he arrived at the club, and that Freier’s hard work should be the blueprint for others in the competition.
“For her to get a move to a club to Wolsburg it’s a really big thing,” said Smith.
“I could not be happier or prouder of her, I know how much work she’s put in, you go through injuries and all that sort of stuff.
“I don’t know if theres been a better move from a young player in the league in the last 10 years or since the league has been formed.
“To go to a club like Wolfsburg is something that’s fantastic and should be the blueprint for the rest of the players in the league.
“I’m proud to be a very small part in Sharn’s journey. We wish her all the best, but we’ve got a bit to do before then.”
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