Melbourne Victory have signed four-time Ninja A-League Champion Taylor Ray, significantly boosting the club’s midfield stocks.
The 24-year-old central midfielder arrives at Victory from Central Coast Mariners after helping the Gosford outfit defeat her new side in the Ninja A-League 2025 Grand Final.
The Australian international spent one season at the Mariners after seven years at Sydney FC, where she won three Premierships and three Championships before claiming another Championship on the Central Coast.
At just 24, Ray has played more than 80 games in the Ninja A-League over eight seasons and brings experience, strength, speed and technical ability to a Victory squad looking to go one better in 2025-26 and seal the Ninja A-League title.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Melbourne Victory for the upcoming season,” Ray said.
“Playing for Victory has been a goal of mine for several years and I am incredibly excited to join the team under Jeff. I have no doubt it will be a huge change for me, but I’m embracing the challenge.
“Victory is a club with incredible fans and a strong history of success. It’s a club that has always been great to play against, that’s consistently been the biggest rival across the league. So to be joining the team, embracing the rivalry every week with the aim of continuing to build on last year’s success and hopefully secure more silverware is exciting.
“I look forward to contributing my best each week and working with my teammates for what will hopefully be another successful season.”
Ray’s arrival at Victory marks the first piece of transfer business conducted by last season’s Grand Finalists, and following a raft of key departures, including Julie Dolan Medallist Alex Chidiac and her Matildas teammates Emily Gielnik, Alana Murphy and Lydia Williams (retired).
Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins says Ray will be of immense value to his squad in her first season in navy blue and white.
“I’m thrilled to have Taylor joining our senior women’s football program for 2025-26,” Hopkins said.
“She is a player that I’ve watched for a number of years and her style of play is something that I know will be hugely valuable to us as we prepare for success this season.
“Taylor has been part of numerous Championship-winning teams, and I know that experience, along with her enthusiasm, will be beneficial as we aim to go one step further this year and secure the silverware we want in 2026.”
