New Zealand international defender Claudia Bunge has signed for women’s A-League club Melbourne Victory after a season in Denmark.
Bunge (24) rejoins Victory where she played in the 2022-23 Liberty A-League season before joining Danish Women’s Super League side HB Køge.
READ MORE: Ferns defender Claudia Bunge joins top-tier Danish club HB Køge >>>>
A dual-Championship winner during her first stint at Melbourne Victory, Bunge made 45 appearances over three seasons, playing an important role at the heart of the side’s defence.
She also featured for the Football Ferns at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and has earned 28 senior caps for her country.
Main photo: Claudia Bunge … has played 28 full internationals for New Zealand.Photo: Phototek.
Melbourne Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins said he was thrilled to have Bunge back in his squad.
“We’re incredibly pleased to welcome back a familiar face in Claudia for the upcoming season,” Hopkins said.
“Her range of defensive skills, reliability and leadership on the park is what sets her apart from a lot of players in the league and she will be an invaluable asset for us this season.
“She helped create a formidable defensive group during our Championship seasons and we’re looking for her to do the same with some new and familiar faces around her this season as well.
Bunge said: “It’s great to be back at Melbourne Victory and I can’t wait to get started.
“I had a great experience in Europe where I learned a lot about myself and my football and I’m looking to achieve even more with Victory this season.
“The club and the team feels like home to me and to be working with Jeff and this group once again this season is something that’s really special for me and I’m hoping to lift even more silverware with this team at the end of the year.”
Bunge is the fourth new signing of the A-League Women’s joining Alana Jancevski, Nicki Flannery, Sofia Sakalis and Ellie Wilson as Hopkins’ side returns to pre-season training on Monday September 23 in preparation for the 2024/25 campaign.
This story was first published on September 1, 2024.
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