Grace Johnston

Grace Johnston
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-04-07) 7 April 2005
Place of birth Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
 Perth Glory
Number 5
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 FW NTC
2023– Perth Glory 39 (0)
2025 Preston Lions 10 (2)
International career‡
2023 Australia U20 2 (0)
2025– Australia U23 4 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 November 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 19 August 2025

Grace Johnston (born 7 April 2005) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder and defender for Perth Glory in the A-League Women. Internationally, she played for Australia U-23, which won the 2025 ASEAN Women's Championship.

Early life

Johnston was born in 2005 in Perth, Western Australia.[1][2] She attended Wembley Primary School and, in May 2016, was chosen for her state's Under-12s Girls Football team, which competed for national titles.[3] Also in that team was Georgia Cassidy, who became her long-term teammate.[3][4] As a junior Johnston played for Subiaco AFC for two seasons.[2][5]

Club career

From 2021 to 2023 Johnston played as a midfielder for the Football West National Training Centre (FW NTC),[2][6] alongside Cassidy.[4][5] They competed in the National Premier Leagues WA Women (NPL WA). In 2023, Johnston was part of the FW NTC leadership group, when the team won the State Cup and finished in the top 4 of the NPL WA.[7]

In June 2023, Johnston signed with Perth Glory’s A-League Women’s squad, initially for one season.[7][8] She debuted on 14 October and made 14 appearances in the 2023–24 season.[2][5] However, her performances were cut short by a syndesmosis injury in round 17.[5] She was re-signed to the team and made 22 further appearances, mostly as a defender, in 2024–25,[9] providing one assist.[10] Her performances earned her a “wildcard” nomination (most votes accumulated throughout the whole season) for the A-League Women's Young Footballer of the Year award for the 2024–25 season.[11] In June 2025 Johnston transferred to Preston Lions FC (women) to compete in the National Premier Leagues Victoria Women (NPLV Women) during the A-League Women's off-season (from June to August).[12] By August she had made 10 appearances, scoring twice.[13] In that same month she re-signed with Perth for the A-League's 2025–26 season.[14]

International career

As a midfielder, Johnston was added to the Australia women's national under-20 soccer team (Young Matildas) training camp in Sydney in August 2023.[15][16] She was called-up for two friendly games against China by coach Leah Blayney on 3 and 6 December 2023 in Xiamen, China.[17][18]

Johnston was named in the Australia U-23 squad as a defender. She competed for the 2025 ASEAN Women's Championship held in Vietnam in August.[19] Her team played against senior national women's squads from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). Johnston scored her team's fourth goal in the 9–0 group-stage win over Timor-Leste.[20][21] According to Kieran Yap from Impetus Football, "Johnston scored the most spectacular goal of the match in the shadows of half time. The Perth Glory defender cut inside from the left and unleashed a rocket from 25 yards".[21] Australia went on to win the tournament, defeating Myanmar 1–0 in the final.[22][23]

Style of play

Johnston is regarded as a versatile player, capable of operating both in central midfield and as a full-back defender, combining defensive strength with composure on the ball.[1]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 November 2025
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Perth Glory 2023–24 A-League 14 0 — — — 14 0
2024–25 A-League 22 0 — — — 22 0
2025–26 A-League 3 0 — — — 3 0
Total 39 0 — — — 39 0
Career total 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 0

Honours

International

Individual

  • Young Footballer of the Year (Wildcard nominee): 2024–25[24]

References

  1. ^ a b "Grace Johnston – Perth Glory Profile". Perth Glory. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ninja A-League 2024/25 Season Guide" (PDF). A-Leagues Media Centre. November 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Football (Soccer) 12s Girls Squad announced". School Sport WA. May 2016. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2025 – via National Library of Australia. Georgia Cassidy, Nth Woodvale PS; Grace Johnston, Wembly PS
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Lani (4 December 2023). "Now and then: the story of Grace and Georgia". OurGameAus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b c d Bennett, Neil (3 April 2024). "Grace Johnston's Roller Coaster Season". Beyond 90. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Doleman, Tommy (28 April 2023). "Johnston focused for NTC's clash with Azzurri". Football West. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b Morgan, Gareth (21 June 2023). "Talented and versatile teenager joins ALW squad". Perth Glory.
  8. ^ Gilby, Ben (22 June 2023). "Perth Glory announce triple signings ahead of 2023/24 campaign". Impetus Football. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  9. ^ Smith, Ben (8 November 2024). "A-League Women: Perth Glory full-back Grace Johnston not resting on laurels in second season". The West Australian. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Grace Johnston Stats". ESPN. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Grace Johnston secures Young Footballer nomination". A-Leagues. 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  12. ^ "All the NPLW movements as transfer deadline passes". Football Victoria. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Grace Johnston stats and ratings". Sofascore. August 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  14. ^ Morgan, Gareth (12 August 2025). "Highly-rated local duo sign ALW contract extensions". Perth Glory. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  15. ^ "Australia's next generation returns as CommBank Young Matildas selected for August camp". Matildas. Football Australia. 21 August 2023.
  16. ^ Gilby, Ben (21 August 2023). "NPL WA Women 2023 Round 20 Wrap". Impetus Football. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  17. ^ "CommBank Young Matildas squad selected for China international series". Football Australia. 21 November 2023.
  18. ^ Smith, Ben (20 November 2023). "Perth Glory young guns Georgia Cassidy and Grace Johnston included in Young Matildas side to play China". The West Australian. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Australia U23 squad confirmed for ASEAN Women's Championship". ASEAN Football Federation. 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Australia qualifies for ASEAN semi-final with dominant win". Impetus Football. 14 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  21. ^ a b Yap, Kieran (14 August 2025). "Australia qualifies for ASEAN semi-final with dominant win". Impetus Football. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Australia U23 crowned ASEAN Women's Champions". Western Sydney Wanderers. 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Australia U23 overcame slow start to become worthy winners". ESPN. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Grace Johnston Young Footballer nomination". A-Leagues. 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
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