Charlotte McLean | |
Birth Date: | 1 March 2000 |
Birth Place: | Sydney, Australia |
Height: | 169 cm |
Position: | Centre-back / right-back |
Currentclub: | North Carolina Courage |
Clubnumber: | 25 |
Years1: | 2020–2024 |
Clubs1: | Sydney FC |
Caps1: | 74 |
Goals1: | 1 |
Years2: | 2024– |
Clubs2: | North Carolina Courage |
Caps2: | 1 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Club-Update: | 5 May 2024 |
Charlotte McLean (born 1 March 2000) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for A-League Women side Sydney FC.
McLean was born in the Sydney suburb of Epping.[1] She attended Cheltenham Girls High School where she won the state high school knockout championship and was named player of the final in 2016.[2] She played for Sydney University in the National Premier Leagues Women's where she won the Challenge Cup championship in 2019.[1]
McLean signed with Sydney FC after playing against the club in practice with Sydney Olympic FC of the NPL NSW.[3] She debuted in the starting lineup against Western Sydney Wanderers FC on 30 December 2020.[4] She contributed to Sydney FC recording the league's best defence and winning consecutive premierships in 2020–21 and 2021–22.[3] She did not miss a minute for the club until 5 March 2023 when she fractured her cheekbone in a collision with a teammate in the closing minutes against Western United.[5] [6] She returned to the pitch the next month on 16 April.[7]
McLean contributed to Sydney FC winning their third consecutive premiership in 2022–23 and two consecutive grand finals in 2023 and 2024.[8] She was honoured on the A-League Women Team of the Season in 2022–23 and 2023–24, with the club also recognising her as their Player of the Year in the latter season.[9] [10] Sydney FC announced her departure on 14 June 2024, with McLean and Cortnee Vine set to move to the United States to play in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[9]
The North Carolina Courage announced their signing of McLean on a two-year contract on 17 June 2024, with her becoming eligible to play at the start of the transfer window on 1 August.[11] She made her club debut on 6 August as a stoppage-time substitute in defeat to the Kansas City Current in the Summer Cup semifinals.[12]
Since 2019, McLean has dated Australian national team player Cortnee Vine, her teammate at Sydney FC and the North Carolina Courage.[13] [14]