_097_(McLean).jpg) McLean with theNorth Carolina Courage in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Charlotte Darcy McLean[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2000-03-01)1 March 2000 (age 25)[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Sydney, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2019 | Sydney University | 32 | (2) |
| 2020 | Sydney Olympic | 12 | (1) |
| 2020–2024 | Sydney FC | 74 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | North Carolina Courage | 0 | (0) |
| 2025 | →Tampa Bay Sun (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22 December 2025 | |||
Charlotte Darcy McLean (born 1 March 2000) is an Australian professionalfootballer who plays as adefender. She began her career withA-League Women clubSydney FC in 2020, winning two league championships and three premierships. She was named in thePFA Team of the Season twice and was named Sydney FC's Player of the Year in 2024.
McLean was born in theSydney suburb ofEpping.[2] She attendedCheltenham Girls High School where she won the Puma Trophy state tournament and was named player of the final in 2016.[3] She joinedNPL NSW Women's clubSydney University in 2018, winning two league premierships, one league championship, and two NPL Challenge Cups.[4] In 2020, she moved to NPL NSW Women's clubSydney Olympic alongside Sydney University teammateCortnee Vine.[5]
McLean signed withW-League clubSydney FC after playing against them in training with Sydney Olympic.[6] On 30 December 2020, she made her W-League debut and played the entire match in a 3–0 win over theWestern Sydney Wanderers.[7] She was mostly used atright-back during the2020–21 season as Sydney FC won the premiership with the best record in the league.[7] The club also posted the league's best defence and reached their fourth consecutivegrand final, losing 1–0 toMelbourne Victory.[8]
McLean moved tocentre-back in the2021–22 season and played every minute in the renamed A-League Women as Sydney FC retained the premiership in dominant fashion, allowing just 6 goals in their 14 league games.[9] The club again advanced to thegrand final, but Cortnee Vine's goal was not enough as they lost 2–1 again to Melbourne Victory.[10]
On 5 March 2023, McLean fractured her cheekbone colliding with a teammate in the closing minutes of their 3–0 win againstWestern United.[11][12] She missed the last five games of the2022–23 season as Sydney FC clinched their third consecutive premiership, before returning for the semifinals on 16 April, losing 1–0 to Western United.[13] She then helped Sydney FC win 1–0 over Melbourne Victory in the preliminary final to reach their sixth consecutivegrand final, winning 4–0 against Western United to claim the club's fourth A-League Women championship and first since2019.[14] Sydney FC were the first team to complete the league double since Melbourne Victory in2020.[15] McLean was honoured in theProfessional Footballers Australia (PFA)A-League Women Team of the Season alongside centre-back partnerNatalie Tobin.[16]
On 26 November 2023, McLean scored her first A-League Women goal with a long-range effort that was deflected through traffic in a 3–2 loss to Melbourne Victory.[17] She again played every minute in the2023–24 season as Sydney FC finished second in the league table, recording the best defence in the league for the fourth consecutive season.[18] Sydney FC advanced to their seventh consecutivegrand final and won 1–0 against premiersMelbourne City, defending their title and becoming the first A-League Women club to win five championships.[19] McLean was named in the PFA Team of the Season for the second time.[20] She was also named the club's Player of the Year recognising her performance in leading the defence without captain Natalie Tobin.[21] On 14 June 2024, Sydney FC confirmed that she and teammate Cortnee Vine would leave the club for an opportunity in theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[21]
On 17 June 2024, the NWSL'sNorth Carolina Courage announced they had signed McLean to a one-and-a-half-year contract.[22] Vine followed one day later.[23] On 6 August, McLean made her first and only appearance for the Courage as a stoppage-time substitute forDani Weatherholt in a 2–0 loss to theKansas City Current in theSummer Cup semifinals.[24]
On 14 July 2025, McLean joinedUSL Super League clubTampa Bay Sun on loan for the rest of the year.[25] She made her debut for the Sun on 6 September, being replaced at halftime in a 2–2 draw with theCarolina Ascent.[26] She missed two months with a foot injury and made only 4 appearances during the loan.[27]
McLean has been in a relationship withSydney FC andNorth Carolina Courage teammateCortnee Vine since 2019.[28][29]
Sydney FC
Individual
