Grace Jale

DOB 10/4/99

Grace Jale rejoined the Wellington Phoenix in August 2024 after two seasons away from the club.

The Football Ferns forward was part of the Phoenix women’s inaugural squad in 2021 having stood out from a young age at both club and school level.

Born and raised in Auckland, Jale represented Mt Albert Grammar School and Eastern Suburbs and Bay Olympic and represented New Zealand at the FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cups in 2016.

She made her debut for the Football Ferns in 2018 and played for Wake Forest University in the U.S.A. the following year.

The Covid pandemic brought an end to Jale’s time in the U.S. and two serious ankle injuries also curtailed her football career.

She was the Phoenix’s leading goal scorer in the women’s team’s maiden campaign, finding the back of the net six times in 12 matches, and was recalled to the Ferns after a four-year absence.

Jale moved to Canberra United for the 2022-23 A-League season. She was a key member of their side, starting 17 of their 18 matches and scoring three goals and providing seven assists.

She was a regular in the Ferns starting XI early in 2023 and made two appearances at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Jale has now played more than 30 senior internationals for New Zealand.

> 2023-24 season

Grace Jale signed with Perth Glory for the 2023-24 A-League and made a fast start to the season, scoring three goals in their first four matches to help Perth to the top of the ladder.

Jale was unable to find the back of the net for the rest of the campaign as Perth faded out of finals contention.

She remained a key part of the Football Ferns set-up and played all three of New Zealand’s matches at the Paris Olympics.

Jale is looking forward to returning to the club where she started her professional career.

“I went to Canberra for a season and I went to Perth for a season, and I missed the Phoenix.

“It was nice to come up against the Nix over the past two years and see how much they’ve developed and their set-up in Wellington.

“The facilities, the coaching staff and everything has gone about a thousand steps upwards from Wollongong.

“I missed being at home, having the home crowd and representing New Zealand in an Australian league.”