2025–26 Western United FC season
| 2025–26 season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Western Melbourne Group, Sayers Road Investment Co, Jaszac Investments - Jason Sourasis, Theodore Andriopoulos, Steve Horvat, Levent Shevki and John Tripodi |
| Head Coach | John Aloisi |
| Stadium | Ironbark Fields AAMI Park |
| A-League Men | Did not participate |
| Australia Cup | Round of 32 |
| Biggest defeat | 0–1 vs. Sydney FC (H) (29 July 2025) Australia Cup |
| All statistics correct as of 29 July 2025. | |
The 2025–26 season was to be Western United Football Club's seventh season in the A-League Men, but they did not participate. Before the club lost their licence, Western United participated in this season's edition of the Australia Cup.
As of 8 August 2025, the club's license to compete in the A-League Men and A-League Women competitions has been stripped by Football Australia's independent first instance board, which oversees club licensing.[1] The club has appealed the decision and the board will consider the club's appeal and issue a decision no later than 25 August 2025.[2] On 2 September, Football Australia's Appeals and Entry Control Body adjourned its decision on the withdrawal of Western United's licence until 9 September.[3] On 6 September 2025, the club's A-Leagues participation was paused for the 2025–26 season, with the possibility of returning at a later date.[4]
Players
Following the hibernation of the club's participation in the A-League Men ahead of the 2025-26 season, all senior players were released from their contracts. Therefore, the player list below represents the squad at the time of withdrawal of the club's licence.[5]
- As of 19 August 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers and contracts
Transfers in
| No. | Position | Name | From | Type/fee | Contract length | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | FW | Jaiden Kucharski | Unattached | Free transfer | 2 years | 8 July 2025 | [6] |
From youth squad
Transfers out
| No. | Position | Name | To | Type/fee | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | FW | Noah Botic | Austria Vienna | End of contract | 29 June 2025 | [7] |
| 4 | DF | James Donachie | Sydney Olympic | End of contract | 30 June 2025 | [8][9] |
| 7 | FW | Ramy Najjarine | Unattached | End of contract | 30 June 2025 | [8] |
| 22 | DF | Kane Vidmar | Unattached | End of contract | 30 June 2025 | [8] |
| 24 | FW | Michael Ruhs | Brisbane Roar | End of contract | 30 June 2025 | [10][11] |
| 77 | MF | Riku Danzaki | Unattached | End of contract | 30 June 2025 | [8] |
| 11 | FW | Jaiden Kucharski | Unattached | Mutual contract termination | 19 August 2025 | [12] |
Listed below are the players who were at the club at time of the hibernation announcement, on 6 September 2025,[13] and the clubs they joined if signed in the current transfer window.
| Name | New club |
|---|---|
| Rhys Bozinovski | Perth Glory[14] |
| Luka Coveny | Unattached |
| Ben Garuccio | Sydney FC[15] |
| Matthew Grimaldi | Melbourne Victory[16] |
| Hiroshi Ibusuki | East Bengal[17] |
| Tomoki Imai | Machida Zelvia[18] |
| Khoder Kaddour | South Melbourne[19] |
| Besian Kutleshi | Melbourne City[20] |
| Jordan Lauton | Brisbane Roar[21] |
| Oliver Lavale | South Melbourne[22] |
| Dylan Leonard | Schalke 04[23] |
| Jake Najdovski | Adelaide United[24] |
| Alex Nassiep | Newcastle Jets[25] |
| Sebastian Pasquali | South Melbourne[26] |
| Tate Russell | Wollongong Wolves[27] |
| Charbel Shamoon | Perth Glory[28] |
| Matt Sutton | Perth Glory[29] |
| Angus Thurgate | Western Sydney Wanderers[30] |
| Luke Vickery | Macarthur FC[31] |
| Michael Vonja | Unattached |
| Abel Walatee | Sydney FC[32] |
| James York | Unattached |
Contract extensions
| No. | Name | Position | Duration | Date | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Charbel Shamoon | Right-back | 1 year | 6 July 2025 | Became free agents on 6 September after the hibernation of Western United's participation this season | [33] |
| 17 | Ben Garuccio | Left-back | 2 years | 14 July 2025 | [34][35] |
Pre-season and friendlies
Win Draw Loss Fixtures
| 21 July 2025 | Oakleigh Cannons | 0–3 | Western United | Melbourne |
| 19:30 AEST | Report | Stadium: Jack Edwards Reserve |
Competitions
Overall record
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Australia Cup | 29 July 2025 | 29 July 2025 | Round of 32 | Round of 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0.00 | ||||
Last updated: 29 July 2025
Source: Competitions
A-League Men
Did not participate.
Australia Cup
| 29 July 2025 Round of 32 | Western United | 0–1 | Sydney FC | Melbourne |
| 19:30 AEST | Report |
|
Stadium: Ironbark Fields Attendance: 1,347 Referee: Jack Morgan |
Statistics
Appearances and goals
Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.[36]
- As of match played 29 July 2025
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Australia Cup | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 5 | FW | Oliver Lavale | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 6 | DF | Tomoki Imai | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 10 | MF | Matthew Grimaldi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 13 | DF | Tate Russell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 14 | FW | Jake Najdovski | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 20 | FW | Abel Walatee | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | Rhys Bozinovski | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 30 | DF | Dylan Leonard | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 32 | MF | Angus Thurgate | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 33 | GK | Matt Sutton | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 37 | FW | Luke Vickery | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 41 | DF | Besian Kutleshi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 43 | DF | Khoder Kaddour | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 44 | MF | Jordan Lauton | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 48 | FW | Mark Leonard | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Player(s) transferred out but featured this season | |||||||
Disciplinary record
Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.[36]
- As of match played 29 July 2025
| Rank | No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Australia Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | DF | Tomoki Imai | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | MF | Rhys Bozinovski | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Clean sheets
Includes all competitions.
- As of match played 29 July 2025
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Goalkeeper | Australia Cup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 33 | Matt Sutton | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | |||
See also
References
- ^ Joey Lynch (8 August 2025). "Western United kicked out of A-League". espn.com.au.
- ^ Joey Lynch (11 August 2025). "A-League's latest crisis: Were Western United doomed from the start?". espn.com.au.
- ^ "Western United FC Club Statement". Western United. 2025-09-02. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "United to Build for Future, A-Leagues Participation Paused". Western United F.C. 6 September 2025.
- ^ Rugari, Vince (6 September 2025). "'We are sorry': Players released as Western United placed in A-League 'hibernation' mode". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (8 July 2025). "Jaiden Kucharski adds attacking x-factor to Western United". Western United.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (29 June 2025). "Noah Botic departs Western United for Austrian top flight". Western United.
- ^ a b c d "Western United confirms player and staff departures for 2025/26". Western United. 4 July 2025.
- ^ "MID-SEASON SIGNINGS DOMINATE NPL MEN'S NSW COMPETITION". National Premier Leagues NSW. 4 July 2025.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (30 June 2025). "Michael Ruhs departs Western United for new opportunity". Western United.
- ^ "Roar secure services of electrifying Australian attacker". Brisbane Roar. 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Isuzu UTE A-league Men Squad Update". Western United. 19 August 2025.
- ^ Hytner, Mike (6 September 2025). "Western United to sit out 2025-26 A-League season with club put into 'hibernation'". The Guardian.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (19 September 2025). "Glory swoop to sign rising midfield star on two-year deal". Perth Glory.
- ^ "Two Time Championship Winner Signs For Sydney FC". Sydney FC. 21 September 2025.
- ^ "Melbourne Victory sign Matthew Grimaldi". Melbourne Victory. 13 September 2025.
- ^ Monteverde, Marco (18 September 2025). "Former Western United pair Hiroshi Ibusuki and Jordan Lauton find new homes". news.com.au.
- ^ "今井 智基選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ" [Announcement of permanent transfer of Tomoki Imai]. Machida Zelvia (in Japanese). 11 September 2025.
- ^ South Melbourne [@smfc] (18 September 2025). "South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of Khoder Kaddour 🇱🇧, who joins the club from Western United following the most recent transfer window" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Academy talent returns to Melbourne City". Melbourne City. 15 September 2025.
- ^ Esposito, Joseph (18 September 2025). "Roar strengthen midfield stocks luring dynamic midfielder on two-year deal". Brisbane Roar.
- ^ South Melbourne [@smfc] (17 September 2025). "South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the signing of young forward Oliver Lavale ahead of the upcoming Australian Championship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "FC Schalke 04 sign youngster Dylan Leonard". Schalke 04. 15 September 2025.
- ^ "Adelaide United secure exciting young prospects Najdovski and Monga". Adelaide United. 23 September 2025.
- ^ Wood, Reagan (29 September 2025). "Jets Sign Alex Nassiep to Scholarship Deal". Newcastle Jets.
- ^ South Melbourne [@smfc] (19 September 2025). "South Melbourne is excited to announce the signing of Sebastian Pasquali, who joins the club until the end of 2026, beginning with the Australian Championship in October" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "PRESS RELEASE Wolves Sign Tate Russell for Upcoming Championship". Wollongong Wolves. 22 September 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (16 September 2025). "Glory snap up defender Shamoon for next two ALM seasons". Perth Glory.
- ^ Morgan, Gareth (26 May 2025). "Glory snap up New Zealand international defender". Perth Glory.
- ^ "Wanderers sign Thurgate on three-year deal". Western Sydney Wanderers. 14 September 2025.
- ^ "Luke Vickery Joins the Herd". Macarthur FC. 26 September 2025.
- ^ Warriner, David (16 September 2025). "Sydney FC Win Race To Sign Exciting Young Forward". Sydney FC.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (6 July 2025). "Charbel Shamoon extends after breakout season at Western United". Western United.
- ^ Hughes, Nick (14 July 2024). "Ben Garuccio leading Western United into exciting new era". Western United.
- ^ Rugari, Vince (2025-09-06). "'We are sorry': Players released as Western United placed in A-League 'hibernation' mode". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ a b "Western United FC - Squad". soccerway.com.