Sydney FC’s A-League Championship winning midfielder Mackenzie Hawkesby has flown the Sky Blues nest to become a ‘Seagull’.
The three-time Premiership winner has signed for Women’s Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion after the clubs agreed to the transfer.
The 23-year old has been a key figure in Sydney FC’s unparalleled success over the past four seasons, playing in each of the past four Grand Finals and lifting the last three Premiers Plates.
She credits her transfer to Europe to the platform provided at Sydney FC.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me and a dream come true to be heading to one of the world’s top leagues,” she said.
“I couldn’t have achieved this without the success and ability to develop at Sydney FC.
“I’ve had incredible faith put in me and support shown from Ante and the club, and had the chance to play with an unbelievable squad of team-mates and friends.
“That’s something which will stay with me forever and I am enormously grateful.”
Sydney FC Head Coach Ante Juric heaped praise on the Wollongong born midfielder.
“Mackenzie is a superb player with a huge desire to succeed and she fully deserves this opportunity,” he said.
“It’s always pleasing when you’ve worked with a player from a young age and you see them develop from a raw talent into an extremely good player; we’ve done that consistently at Sydney FC.
“I have no doubt Mackenzie will be a success in England, she has the personality, the desire and the talent to achieve great things.”
Hawkesby joins Caitlin Foord, Sarah Hunter, Claire Wheeler, Remy Siemsen, Ally Green, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo and Deborah-Anne De La Harpe who have all secured professional contracts overseas from Sydney FC.
She played 58 times for Sydney FC hitting the back of the net 14 times and was named Sydney FC Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
