Rhys Youlley

Rhys Youlley
Personal information
Full name Rhys Marlon Youlley
Date of birth (2005-02-13) February 13, 2005
Place of birth Sydney, Australia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sydney FC
Number 36
Youth career
2016–2018 Sydney FC
2018–2022 Western Sydney Wanderers
2022–2023 Macarthur FC
2023–2025 Westerlo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022–2023 Bulls FC Academy 27 (2)
2022–2023 Macarthur FC 1 (0)
2023–2025 Westerlo 5 (0)
2025– Sydney FC 21 (0)
International career
2023 Australia U18 3 (0)
2023–2025 Australia U20 10 (1)
2024 Australia U23 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 April 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 5 October 2025

Rhys Marlon Youlley is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder for Sydney FC in the A-League Men.

Early life

Rhys grew up in Sydney and played football from a young age, often going along to watch his older brother Liam play matches before he could join a team himself.

In 2016 he joined the Sydney FC Academy as a 12 year old,[1] before moving to Western Sydney Wanderers Academy in 2018.

Club career

Macarthur FC

From his time at the Western Sydney Wanderers Academy, Youlley made the move to Macarthur FC where he made his A-League debut in a 1–0 loss to Newcastle Jets, coming on as a 79th-minute substitute in February 2023.[2] He continued to play for the Bulls Academy team before earning himself a move to Belgium.[3]

Westerlo

Youlley joined Belgian side Westerlo in 2023 with his previous employer Macarthur granting him the opportunity to pursue his football career overseas.[4] Youlley initially played in the youth team upon arrival before making his first team debut in a defeat to R.S.C. Anderlecht in the Croky Cup on 5 December 2024.[5]

He made his league debut on 9 February 2025, at home against Standard Liege and continued to feature off the bench at the back end of the campaign for his side.[1]

Sydney FC

Youlley returned to Australia, signing a 3-year contract with Sydney FC on 30 May 2025.[6][7]

International career

Youth

Youlley has represented Australia on more than one occasion in the youth set ups, moving his way through the ranks of the U18's, U20's and U23 sides. He has featured at a number of major youth tournaments, including the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup,[8] and the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[9]

Career statistics

As of 11 April 2026
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Macarthur FC 2022–23 A-League Men 1 0 0 0 1 0
2023–24 A-League Men 0 0 2 0 2 0
Total 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
Westerlo 2023–24 Belgian Pro League 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024–25 Belgian Pro League 5 0 1 0 6 0
Total 5 0 1 0 0 0 6 0
Sydney FC 2024–25 A-League Men 0 0 3 1 3 1
2025–26 A-League Men 21 0 0 0 21 0
Career total 27 0 6 1 0 0 33 1

References

  1. ^ a b Rosengarten, Jake (2025-10-20). "Inside the Aussies Abroad group chat run by Socceroos rising stars". Football360. Retrieved 2026-05-03.
  2. ^ "Rhys Youlley (Midfielder, Macarthur FC)". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 2025-05-30.
  3. ^ Bossi, dominic (1 September 2023). "Young Bull seals Belgium move". Macarthur FC. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  4. ^ "Graduate from talented class of 2017 joins Socceroos sensation in Belgium". aleagues.com.au. 1 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Anderlecht - Westerlo". Soccerway. 5 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Sydney FC Sign Young Socceroos And Olyroos Star". Sydney FC. 30 May 2025.
  7. ^ "Sydney FC sign one of 'Australia's brightest talents' & he's no stranger to Sky Blues". aleagues.com.au. A-League Men. 30 May 2025.
  8. ^ Pisani, sacha (3 April 2024). "Olyroos squad stacked with A-Leagues talent for this month's U23 Asian Cup". A-Leagues. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  9. ^ "CommBank Young Socceroos 21-man squad finalised for FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025™". socceroos.com.au. 25 September 2025.