Alana Cortellino will add her blistering pace and individual brilliance to the Western United attack, signing a two-year deal in the Liberty A-League Women.
A western local hailing from Keilor Park, the 17-year-old was a Calder United junior and has developed into one of Australia’s brightest young talents thereafter, going on to feature at state and international level.
Cortellino was a member of the Junior Matildas squad that won the AFF U18 Women’s Championship in 2022, where she featured alongside Western United star Avaani Prakash.
Still making waves as an electrifying winger, Cortellino represented Victoria in the inaugural Battle of the States in 2023 having shone with FV Emerging before taking on a regular role at FC Bulleen Lions this season.
With dazzling trickery and an eye for goal to match, the youngster has registered six goals in 19 games for the league-leaders to go along with three goals in five games in the NIKE F.C. Cup.
Those three goals all came at crucial junctures in the cup competition, with a brace in the semi-final and a vital leveller in the final as Bulleen lifted the title with a 3-2 win over Preston Lions on Sunday.
“It’s definitely a great feeling. I’ve been working hard to get here. My parents are proud, and it was just a great feeling telling my family about it,” she said.
Representing this whole area in the West, knowing that I get to play and represent everyone that lives here is a great feeling. I can’t wait to start playing.
Western United Head Coach Kat Smith said adding another highly talented young player from the West would continue pushing the team’s vision for success.
“We have seen a number of young talents make big leaps in the Liberty A-League in recent years and we firmly believe that Alana has the potential to be the next in line to do so,” she said.
“Her qualities as an attacker are raw and unteachable – pace, skill, work rate and an understanding of the game beyond her years.
“The fact that she is born and bred in the West makes this an even more perfect signing for our football club, and I can’t wait to see her represent our community in Tarneit this season.”
Cortellino becomes Western United’s third confirmed new signing in the Liberty A-League following the double swoop of Chloe Lincoln and Sasha Grove from Canberra United in June.
She will close out the NPLW Victoria season with Bulleen as they chase a Victorian treble before joining her new teammates in pre-season training at Ironbark Fields next month.
