Ellie Carpenter has won the prestigious Professional Footballers Australia women's player of the year award.
The honour, announced on Thursday, comes after an outstanding year for the Matildas and Chelsea defender.
The prestigious player-voted award is determined exclusively by PFA members and honours the player who, in the eyes of their peers, has delivered the most outstanding performances at club and international level.
Carpenter received the most votes ahead of five of her Matildas teammates, including previous winners Steph Catley and Sam Kerr, AFC Women’s Asian Cup MVP Alanna Kennedy, Winonah Heatley and Holly McNamara.
The award caps off a fantastic season for Carpenter, who had already been voted by her peers as part of the 2026 Professional Footballers Association's Women’s Super League Team of the Year in England and the FIFPRO Asia/Oceania Team of the Tournament.
“I’m very honoured to receive this award,” Carpenter said.
“It’s always special when you get voted by your peers (and) your teammates. It’s a very special award to win and I’m proud of my 2025-26 season.
“There were amazing nominees within the national team, so I’m very proud to have won.
“In the last 12 months, I moved to Chelsea, we had the Asian Cup in Australia. For me personally, it was about adapting to a new league here and a major tournament during a season, which was quite tricky to navigate sometimes. But I’m proud of how I adapted and grew as well in the last year.”
The 26-year-old starred in her first season for Chelsea, making 29 appearances and scoring three times in all competitions, quickly establishing herself as one of the Women’s Super League’s star fullbacks.
Carpenter also shone for the Matildas, starting in every match during their run to the final of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
She also became the 18th player, and the second youngest, to make 100 appearances for the Matildas in their June friendly against Mexico.
This is the fourth PFA award Carpenter has won, having been named the Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2021 and the Young Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2020 and 2021.
PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year winners:
Ellie Carpenter, 2026, 2021
Steph Catley, 2025, 2024, 2020
Sam Kerr, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013
Lydia Williams, 2016, 2012
Elise Kellond-Knight, 2015, 2011
Katrina Gorry, 2014
Servet Uzunlar, 2010
