Grace Jale (born 10 April 1999) is an association football midfielder who plays for Canberra United and the New Zealand women's national football team. She has previously played for Wellington Phoenix.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Grace Joanna Ella Jale | ||
Date of birth | (1999-04-10) 10 April 1999 (age 23) | ||
Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand, | ||
Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Canberra United | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 6 | (0) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2021–2022 | Wellington Phoenix | 12 | (6) |
2022– | Canberra United | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2016 | New Zealand U-17 | 3 | (0) |
2016 | New Zealand U-20 | 6 | (0) |
2018– | New Zealand | 6 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 March 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 June 2022 |
Born and raised in Auckland to a Fijian father and New Zealand mother, Jale started playing football (soccer) at age 7.[1][2] She attended Mt Albert Grammar School where she helped the team to a national First XI championship. She also played for the Eastern Suburbs premier women's team.[3] During her first year playing for the Bay Olympic Club Team, she was named Player of the Year and was awarded a Variety Gold Heart Scholarship.[3]
In August 2018, Jale was offered a contract with Czech first-division club AC Sparta Praha,[4] but opted to attend and play for Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in the United States.[5]
On 19 October 2021 Jale signed with the newly formed Wellington Phoenix team to play in their inaugural season of the 2021–22 A-League Women league.[6]
In July 2022, following a successful season with Wellington Phoenix, Jale joined for Australian A-League Women club Canberra United on a two-year contract.[7]
Jale made her debut for the senior national team and scored her first international goal during a match against Tonga at the 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup.[1] She previously represented New Zealand on the under-17 and under-20 national teams.[1] She competed at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Jordan and 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
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1. | 19 November 2018 | Stade Numa-Daly Magenta, Nouméa, New Caledonia | ![]() | 11–0 | 11–0 | 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup |
2. | 22 November 2018 | ![]() | 6–0 | 6–0 | ||
Canberra United FC – current squad | |
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New Zealand squad – 2018 OFC Women's Nations Cup winners (6th title) | ||
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