Matilda De Vanna signs with Italian giants

Friday, 9 August 2019:

LISA DE VANNA of Australia in action during the Women's Algarve Cup Tournament match between Australia and China at Estadio Municipal de Albufeira in Albufeira, Portugal.
LISA DE VANNA of Australia in action during the Women's Algarve Cup Tournament match between Australia and China at Estadio Municipal de Albufeira in Albufeira, Portugal.


Matildas' record goalscorer Lisa De Vanna will play for Italian club Fiorentina during the upcoming Serie A season.

The 34-year-old's signing was announced by the club on Thursday and De Vanna will be available when La Viola begin their season against Florentia on August 14.

The move makes De Vanna the latest Australian player to choose to ply their trade in Europe's growing women's football competitions instead of the United States.

Alex Chidiac, who missed out on selection for this year's World Cup, won the Spanish league in her first season with Atletico Madrid in 2018-19.

De Vanna has scored a record 47 goals for the Matildas and is on 150 caps - just one behind all-time record appearance maker Cheryl Salisbury.

Italy was one of the surprise packets at the World Cup, beating Australia in the group stages before bowing out to eventual runners-up Holland in the quarter-finals.

Fiorentina narrowly missed out on the Scudetto to Juventus last season but their second-placed finish means they will compete in the 2019-20 UEFA women's Champions League.






AAP