West Ham United women’s team is delighted to confirm the signing of Australia international Katrina Gorry.
The combative midfielder makes the move to east London after leaving Swedish Damallsvenskan side Vittsjö GIK in November 2023.
Gorry, who will wear the No22 shirt, brings a wealth of club and international experience to the Hammers, having accumulated an impressive 105 caps for her country and played a starring role at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.
The 31-year-old has played in six different countries throughout her 15-year professional career and is now excited about coming to the Barclays Women’s Super League for the first time.
“I’m really pleased to sign for West Ham United,” Gorry told West Ham TV.
“The Club spoke my language. West Ham is a family Club and that was a big factor for me wanting to join. I’ve felt the support from everyone straight away and there is no better place for me to be right now.
“The Women’s Super League is the league everyone is speaking about at the moment. I want to challenge myself and play against and with the best players in the world.
“I will work hard, try to control the game and do whatever I can to help the team both on and off the pitch. I am very proud and grateful to be here and really excited by what’s ahead.”
Manager Rehanne Skinner is pleased to welcome Gorry to the Club and is looking forward to adding her qualities to the team.
“We’re really looking forward to welcoming Katrina to the Club,” she said. “Katrina is a tenacious, hard-working midfielder who takes real pride in her defensive work and protecting the backline. In possession, she will also help to bring a lot of quality and creativity to our play.
“We wanted to use this transfer window to add leadership to the squad and Katrina has this in abundance.
“As a player who has had a wealth of experience in the domestic and international game, I have no doubt that Katrina’s professionalism will be an asset to our squad moving forwards.”
Gorry was born in Brisbane, Queensland, and played youth football for Mount Gravatt Hawks in the city's suburbs. She began her professional career in 2009 and over the next two years played for First Division sides Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United, before returning to Victory for the 2011/12 season.
Gorry then moved abroad for the first time, signing with Ottawa Fury for the 2012 season, helping the Canadian side to the Championship title. In the same year, the midfielder made her senior debut for the Matildas in a friendly fixture against then-world champions Japan.
The midfielder returned to Queensland to sign for Brisbane Roar ahead of the 2012/13 A-League season, where she would play between the season breaks of European club competitions until 2020. During her time with Roar, Gorry spent time with FC Kansas City, where she helped them to the 2014 NWSL Championship, as well as spells with Utah Royals and Japanese-based Vegalta Sendai.
Gorry then moved to Avaldsnes in Norway on a permanent deal in January 2020, where she helped them to a third-place finish in the Toppserien, playing 13 matches. She was then loaned back to Brisbane Roar for the 2020/21 A-League season.
The midfielder gave birth to her daughter Harper in August 2021 and began her return to professional football with her hometown team, where she accumulated over 100 appearances.
After seeing out the remainder of the 2021/22 A-League season, Gorry joined Vittsjö GIK, who finished in sixth position in the Damallsvenskan in her debut season.
Gorry returned to Australia during Vittsjö’s winter break in preparation for a FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil, playing her eleventh season with Brisbane Roar. She returned to Sweden for the 2023 season, which concluded on 11 November, with Gorry helping her team to a fifth-place finish.
On the international stage, Gorry has been an integral part of the the Matildas' squad since her debut, appearing in a staggering six major tournaments - three FIFA Women’s World Cups, two Asian Cups and an Olympic Games.
At last summer’s World Cup in her homeland, Gorry was instrumental alongside her new West Ham teammate Mackenzie Arnold in Australia’s historic success in finishing fourth, making the highest number of tackles and covering the most ground of any player throughout the tournament.
Gorry’s impressive footballing CV also includes individual recognition, winning Asia’s Footballer of the Year in 2014 and being nominated Sweden’s Citizen of the Year in 2023.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to welcome Katrina and her family to the Club and wish her every success for her career in Claret and Blue.
