On Monday it was announced former Sun, Finley’s Leia Varley, had signed a scholarship deal with Adelaide United for the upcoming A-League Women’s season.
In doing so, Varley scales up a step in the national football pyramid after plying her trade for FV Emerging in the National Premier League Women’s Victorian competition, where she hit the back of the net on three occasions from centre-back this season.
Stoked to finally reach her goal of signing an A-League Women’s contract, Varley had no reservations about moving north-west to better her budding career.
“I’m excited to have signed with Adelaide United,” Varley said.
“This is a fantastic chance to test myself playing against the best female footballers in the country and I can’t wait to begin training with my new teammates and working under (Adelaide United’s A-League Women’s head coach) Adrian Stenta.”
Prior to her stint with FV Emerging, Varley marshalled Box Hill United’s back line in 2018 and did the same for South Melbourne a year later.
Further back down the timeline in 2014-15, she spent two seasons in GV Suns orange as part of the boys’ side.
It served as a part of her development which she credits heavily in her journey, and now by joining Adelaide United, it makes her the seventh Suns product to sign for an A-League club/academy in the past two years alone.
With Varley’s signing coming alongside Bulleen Lions defender Grace Taranto, Adelaide United’s A-League Women’s head coach Adrian Stenta had plenty of praise reserved for the pair.
“We’re happy to add both Grace and Leia to our squad,” Stenta said.
“Grace is able to play anywhere across the defence, while Leia is predominantly a centre-back.
“They are young players with a lot of potential and will certainly be beneficial to our team, which is coming together nicely.”
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