Danelle Tan, a football player, is fired up to play in Brisbane after accepting her first pro contract.
SINGAPORE: After only a few minutes of playing for the Brisbane Roar, Lionesses forward Danelle Tan was filled with motivation.
After posing for pictures with the media, Tan greeted and shook hands with Sharn Freier, who, like Tameka Yallop, had just returned from the Olympics in Paris where they both played women’s football for Australia. They were touring the club’s facilities.
Tan, 19, stated, “This is the calibre of players at the club.” Tan signed her first professional contract with the Roar through the end of the 2024–25 season. It is very motivating, and I can’t wait to work out and play with Olympians.
After winning the league, Tan had originally intended to stay at German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund for a more season. However, offers from elite Australian teams surfaced, and she ultimately chose Roar. On August 8, she was formally introduced as a Roar player.
Tan, a 14-year-old with 22 caps for his country and seven goals, was the youngest player to score for Singapore. She reported that she had a productive discussion with Chief Operations Officer Zac Anderson and Chief Executive Kaz Patafta of Roar.
“After that call, I truly felt that Brisbane Roar was the right next step for me in my career,” the woman continued. Playing professionally has always been my desire.
“Finally putting pen to paper and signing a contract has been immensely satisfying.
In the A-League Women’s 2023–24 season, the Roar came in ninth place out of twelve clubs.
Star past players include Hayley Raso and Clare Polkinghorne, two well-known Matildas stars, as well as Japanese striker Yuki Nagasato, the winner of the Uefa Champions League and the Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Sam Kerr of Chelsea and Mary Fowler of Manchester City are two examples of the players and coaches who have used the A-League Women as a springboard to greater platforms, such as the Women’s Super League in England.
Tan’s new teammates will be introduced to her when preseason play begins in September and the regular season begins on November 1.
The only other Singaporean player to compete in Australia’s premier women’s league was Lim Shiya, a former national midfielder who spent 2008–2009 with Perth Glory.
According to head coach Alex Smith of the Roar, Tan is viewed by the team as a “exciting young player who will thrive in our environment.” Her straightforward style of forward runs and finishing will go well with ours.
He went on, “We see Danelle coming on as a striker in the last third, bringing runs and hopefully goals forward for our team.” It’s my responsibility to keep fostering the qualities that will make her successful and to get her on the field as much as possible.
“Danelle is fully capable of succeeding in this league. For each player, putting in a lot of effort and dedication will be crucial. Ensuring that every practice goes as smoothly as possible to get us ready for the season is my responsibility.
“Me”
When Tan joined the English third-tier London Bees in the amateur FA Women’s National League South in 2023, she became the first woman from Singapore to play in a European league.
She made history as the first Asian player for the Dortmund women’s squad the same year. She scored 16 goals in 27 games as BVB Frauen won the regional Kreispokal Cup and the fifth-division Landesliga, marking their third straight promotion in three years.
“Hit the ground running and get settled into the team as fast as possible, compete for a spot in the starting eleven, and develop as much as a player” is Tan’s goal during her first campaign in Australia.
“I think people all have different dreams and aspirations,” she says, adding that she also wants to inspire others. My dream brought me to this unknown place, but I don’t desire or hope that other people will follow it.
“I just hope that I’ve taught someone that maybe it’s worthy if they were dreaming about it but didn’t think it was attainable. Perhaps that is feasible.
