Sydney FC have swooped to land two major mid-season signings to bolster their attempt at achieving a record breaking third consecutive Premiership and record equaling fourth Championship.
Versatile forwards Teigan Collister and Rola Badawiya will join the Sky Blues for the remainder of the Liberty A-League 2022-23 season.
22-year old Collister and 24-year old Badawiya will add further strength to the forward line who have already notched 17 goals in just seven matches this season.
Badawiya won the NPL New South Wales Women’s Player of the Year last season while playing for Sydney University.
She was awarded the honour at the NPL’s Gold Medal Dinner alongside fellow Sydney FC striker Jaiden Kucharski who took out the Men’s version.
The US born striker goes straight into the squad to face second place Western United in tomorrow night’s top of the table clash in Melbourne.
“Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I am feeling right now,” she said.
“I am so grateful for this opportunity, there are a lot of people who would like to be in my position right now and it’s a massive achievement for me.
“I’m so excited to be playing alongside all of these fantastic players and the Matildas in this Sydney FC squad.
“I don’t think it has hit me how big this game is on Wednesday.
“It’s not only my first game with Sydney FC, but it’s a massive game for the whole club.
“It will be an amazing game to be a part of and hopefully I can get on and do some great things.”
It is Badawiya’s first professional contract in the A-League Women’s competition having previously played for Roma in Italy’s Serie B and California Baptist University in the United States.
Collister has previously played for Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers in the Liberty A-League.
She flies in from Copenhagen this week where she has been completing a University exchange and believes Sydney FC can further advance her development.
“Sydney FC has had the best women’s team in the country consistently over the course of the Liberty A-League, so it is an honour to be joining this club.
“I’m looking forward to how I can develop my game, especially under Ante Juric and his coaching staff, as well as working with these top quality players.
“I want to win trophies and Sydney FC is the club and squad who have the best chance of doing this.”
Sydney FC Head Coach Ante Juric is confident both players will give him extra options in the forward line.
“Teigan is strong and has pace and power and she’s a great addition to this squad.
“She can play anywhere across the front three which gives me great options from an attacking sense.
“She will work hard for the team, she gets on with the job and is an excellent fit for our team culture.
“Rola is also a solid performer having won the NPL Player of the Year and she has a lot of attributes which suit us in the attacking third.
“She will also fit in with our great culture as she has been training with us for around two months and is comfortable with what we do.”
Collister will wear the number 7 shirt and Badawiya will take the number 25 jersey.
