Macey Fraser joins Utah Royals for A-League Women record fee

Bird says joining Storm ownership felt inevitable

Wellington Phoenix midfielder Macey Fraser has joined NWSL club the Utah Royals for what the New Zealand club believes is a record A-League Women transfer fee.

The Royals paid a six-figure sum to secure the Football Ferns star on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth.

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"It's an unreal opportunity," Fraser, 21, said.

Wellington has not disclosed the sum, but says it is more than the previous A-League Women record -- the reported AU$100,000 ($65K U.S.) paid by fellow NSWL club Bay FC for Melbourne City goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx in February.

"This is a red-letter day for Macey and the club," Phoenix football director Shaun Gill said. "She's been one of the best talents in New Zealand for several years and it's great the Phoenix have been able to help her realise that potential."

Fraser joined the club's academy as an unheralded teenager in 2021, making a club-high five assists this campaign, and debuting for the national team earlier this year.

After helping New Zealand qualify for the Olympics, Fraser is considered a likely squad member for the Paris Games, where the Football Ferns will face the hosts, Colombia and Canada.

Fraser said she was grateful to the Phoenix "for giving me the chance to play professional football," and her family.

"I learnt football from my brothers, so I owe a lot to them," she said.

Gill said the bumper transfer showed the need to invest further in women's football.

"It's fair to say we've almost single-handedly built the high-performance pathway for football in New Zealand," he said.

"For the women's game to continue to grow and in order to build on the success of last year's FIFA Women's World Cup there needs to be greater investment in high performance pathways that lead to full-time pro contracts like Macey's.

"We wish her all the best at the Royals, and we look forward to helping our other players realise their footballing dreams abroad."

Utah hopes Fraser can help flick the switch on their campaign, currently sitting second-bottom of the NSWL after four games.

"Macey is a player that can make an immediate impact on our team," Royals sporting director Kelly Cousins said.

"Not only does she have the temperament but has the technical and physical abilities to succeed in the NWSL."