PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Thorns FC today announced that the club has agreed to terms with Australian defender Ellie Carpenter, pending receipt of her P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
“Ellie is regarded as one of the top young players in the world and we are delighted by the opportunity to further her development,” said Gavin Wilkinson, general manager and president of soccer for Thorns FC. “She fits a positional need and we look forward to her joining the club after she turns 18.”
Carpenter, 17, made her debut with the Australia Women’s National Team at the age of 15 in 2016, playing in two matches during Olympic qualifying, and became the youngest Australian Olympian at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Since making her international debut, Carpenter has earned 13 caps for the Matildas and scored her first international goal against China PR on March 6, 2017, at the Algarve Cup.
“This is an exciting move for us and for Ellie,” said Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons. “We are signing a powerful, attacking fullback that can help us now and also has huge upside in the long term. Ellie has strong technical ability with an attacking attitude that will add to our play out of the back. Her winning mentality to improve and compete makes her a great addition to our group.”
At the club level, Carpenter began her career in the W-League with Western Sydney Wanderers in 2015, playing two seasons with the side until recently joining Canberra United ahead of the 2017-18 season. This past season with Canberra, Carpenter appeared in 10 matches (10 starts), tallying two goals and two assists, and was named Supporters’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year.
Carpenter, whose contract will start on April 28, will arrive in Portland after the conclusion of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which serves as FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying for Australia, spanning April 7-22.
Ellie Carpenter
Position: Defender
Height: 5-5
Born: April 28, 2000
Hometown: Cowra, New South Wales, Australia
Last Club: Canberra United
College: n/a
Citizenship: Australia
