MELBOURNE, Australia -- Cortnee Vine will look to push for her case for a Matildas recall at Melbourne City, signing a one-year deal with the defending A-League Women champions less than a year out from the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Logging just 88 minutes across two appearances in the opening months of the NWSL campaign, Vine agreed to a mutual contract termination with the North Carolina Courage in June, freeing her to return to Australia and link up with City.
The 28-year-old will serve to help fill the gaps left by a wave of departures from Michael Matricciani's side in recent months, with Matildas talents Holly McNamara (Everton), Bryleeh Henry (Rosengård), and Leah Davidson (Charlton Athletic) all heading to Europe, in addition to the departure of key contributors Laura Hughes, Taylor Otto, and Alexia Apostolakis.
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"I'm really excited to be coming home and joining Melbourne City," Vine said. "I've watched what City has achieved over the last few seasons and the standards this group continues to set, so the opportunity to come into that environment and be part of a team competing for trophies was really exciting to me.
"My time in the NWSL has helped me grow both as a player and a person, and I'm looking forward to bringing those experiences back to Australia. I can't wait to meet my new teammates, get out on the pitch and do everything I can to help bring more success to the club."
A member of the Matildas squads at the 2023 Women's World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics, Vine burst into national prominence and became the face of the A-League Women after scoring the decisive penalty in Australia's shootout victory over France in the World Cup quarterfinals.
However, after leaving Sydney FC -- where she won three premierships and two championships -- to join the Courage on the eve of the Paris Games, Vine announced in November of 2024 that she was taking a step back from football to prioritise her mental health after an at times "overwhelming" two years.
The winger returned to action in the NWSL in 2025 and was part of Joe Montemurro's squad for the Matildas' friendlies against Scotland and England last November but, amidst injury and form issues with North Carolina, hasn't been part of the national setup since, missing selection for March's home AFC Women's Asian Cup.
She heads back to Australia to join a City side that has bucked broader trends by consistently sending players to the national setup in recent years, and bolsters their push for back-to-back titles and a third-straight premiership, as well as their push to win the AFC Women's Champions League.
"We're incredibly excited to welcome Cortnee to Melbourne City," City director of football Michael Petrillo said. "Cortnee knows what it takes to win in this competition and we're delighted to add a player of her quality to our squad as we look to compete for more silverware both domestically and in Asia."
Vine's return to Australia came on the same day that Wellington Phoenix announced the signing of Matildas utility Tameka Yallop, with the veteran leaving Brisbane Roar to be closer to family -- her wife, Kirsty, is a 100-time New Zealand international -- and help Bev Priestman's side look to go one better than their Grand Final defeat to City in 2025-26.
"I'm chasing that trophy and so is Wellington, so we're aligned," Yallop said. "Getting the opportunity to work under Bev was a massive drawcard, not to mention the facilities at NZCIS. They're second to none.
"The club have proven that they've consistently invested in the women's game and are looking to continue that as well."