Brisbane Roar head coach Alex Smith believes Sharn Freier’s transfer to European giants Wolfsburg is the “blueprint” for Ninja A-League players as the CommBank Matildas star looks to leave with a Championship medal.
Freier will link up with two-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winners Wolfsburg at the conclusion of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season in a landmark deal that will see the Roar land a club-record women’s transfer fee.
“The bigger story here for Australian football is we have one of our own, a Brisbane product, a young Brisbane girl who’s come through the NPL system. Who’s come through FQ and QAS and into the professional ranks,” said Roar COO Zac Anderson told reporters.
Roar coach Smith has worked closely with the Brisbane product since taking charge last season and he highlighted the significance of the Australia international moving to the seven-time German champions.
“Extremely proud. These are some of the moments as a coach you live for. As I showed up 18 months ago, the talent was already pretty obvious,” he said at a press conference.
“I know how much work she’s put in.”
Smith, who has turned the Roar into genuine title contenders, feels Freier’s transfer to Wolfsburg has set the “benchmark” in the Ninja A-League.
“We certainly have a lot of fantastic young players coming through. It’s a testament to all the hard work being done over the past few years in the QS as well, with linking the programs. But there’s definitely three or four who could turn heads,” he said.
“There’s a lot of hard work that goes into it. Sharn’s been on a long journey to get to where she is right now. But for me it’s the benchmark. It’s the blueprint of what the next group can do.
In the meantime, Freier has unfinished business with the Roar.
Freier, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in mid-2021, has scored seven goals and tallied 11 assists since debuting for Brisbane.
Two of those goals have come in 2024-25, with Smith’s Roar fourth and five points behind unbeaten leaders Melbourne City through 12 rounds.
“If my last season with Brisbane Roar can be with a trophy with this bunch of girls, that would be a dream move for me… It would be very special,” she said.
Freier added: “The season we’ve had so far and the team we have at the moment is very special.
“Hopefully we can go all the way and I want to be part of that. I’m really grateful that I get to stay and make the move after.”
During the press conference, Freier revealed she had interest from Italy following the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris but “it wasn’t the right time for me”.
However, she could not turn down Wolfsburg.
“I know it’s going to be a very big challenge for me. It’s the next level so I’m not expecting anything. Just putting my head down and working hard,” she said.
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