Teen Football Fern Milly Clegg scores US move

Tuesday, 23 January 2024

Teen Football Ferns star Milly Clegg has continued her rapid rise by scoring a “dream” move to a top team in the United States.

The 18-year-old goal machine has been snapped up by National Women’s Soccer League club Racing Louisville on a three-year deal after she was scouted in the lead up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It is a huge opportunity for the young Auckland talent, who first burst onto the scene in 2022 when she scored at both the Under-17 and Under-20 Women’s World Cup tournaments.

The NWSL is home to most of the United States national team, including high-profile attackers such as Alex Morgan, Sophia Smith and Mallory Swanson, and has traditionally been one of the premier leagues in women’s football.

Clegg first became aware of Louisville’s interest when they added her to their discovery list when she was 17, which essentially gives NWSL clubs first dibs to scout and sign players not eligible for the draft.

Clegg had already agreed to join Western Sydney Wanderers when Louisville made their formal attempt to sign her, so the idea was she would finish out the A-League Women season and then head to the US.

But the stars aligned to sign immediately when she suffered a season-ending hamstring injury on her Western Sydney debut, with Wanderers agreeing to release her so she could take up the opportunity in the US.

“I was so excited when I got the news,” Clegg said.

“It’s been a huge goal of mine to get to one of these leagues, so for it to happen this season is super exciting. It shows the hard work I’ve done has paid off.

“Those are the kind of players you look up to your whole life but never grasp the fact you could be playing against them.

“We’ve got some real quality internationals at Louisville too so it’s a dream come true to play with and against some of the best players in the world.”

Racing Louisville’s roster includes former World Cup winner Jess McDonald and current US international Savannah DeMelo, who was part of last year’s World Cup squad.

Clegg will also have a Kiwi for company in Louisville, teaming up with New Zealand football legend Abby Erceg, arguably the Football Ferns’ best-ever player.

“I watched her all through my childhood. She was the Football Fern everyone knew and looked up to so it’s very cool that I will be playing with her.

“I spoke to her on one of the Zoom calls with Louisville and got to meet her there and she explained Louisville and said how much she loved it.

“She was really positive and excited to have another Kiwi over there. It’s definitely amazing to play with her.”

Clegg was the youngest player selected in the Football Ferns squad for last year’s home World Cup, picked by coach Jitka Klimková after just two international appearances following a breakout A-League Women campaign with Wellington Phoenix.

After finishing her first pro season as the Phoenix’s top scorer, Clegg opted against re-signing for a second season and committed to Western Sydney instead.

Her signing was seen as a big coup for the Wanderers after a disappointing previous campaign but she barely played for them, seeing just 56 minutes of action before injury struck.

Clegg suffered a hamstring injury on her Western Sydney debut and then redid it one week before she was due to return, ruling her out for the remainder of the season.

Clegg is set to miss the Football Ferns’ upcoming Olympic qualifiers as a result of the injury but she should be fit for the start of the 2024 NWSL season on March 15.

She is currently back in New Zealand but is scheduled to travel to the US in March to continue her rehabilitation with Racing Louisville before belatedly commencing pre-season training.

While other Football Ferns have played in the NWSL before, it is unique that Clegg has signed a professional contract so young without going to university in the US first.

That was her original plan and she signed with both Phoenix and Western Sydney on amateur deals in order to retain her NCAA eligibility.

However, Clegg said getting drafted and playing in the NWSL was always the end goal when she first considered studying in the US, so she has essentially fast tracked the process by four years.

She will instead continue her education remotely through Massey University after receiving a Prime Minister's scholarship this year.

“Having an opportunity like this, you would never turn it down.”