Xavier Stella
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Xavier Nicholas Stella | ||
| Date of birth | August 21, 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Melbourne Victory | ||
| Number | 34 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Moreland City | |||
| Templestowe United | |||
| Hume City | |||
| 2019 | Northcote City | ||
| 2020–2025 | Melbourne City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Melbourne City NPL/VPL | 52 | (3) |
| 2025 | Melbourne City | 0 | (0) |
| 2025– | Melbourne Victory | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2022 | Australia U16 | ||
| 2025– | Australia U19 | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Xavier Stella (born 21 August 2006) is an Australian professional association football player who currently plays as a defender for A-League club Melbourne Victory.[1][2]
Early life
Stella grew up in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and supported Melboourne Victory.[3] He played junior football with Moreland City,[4] Templestowe United,[5] Hume City,[3] and Northcote City[6] respectively, before joining Melbourne City’s youth academy from the 2020 season onwards.
Club career
Melbourne City 2022–2025
After featuring for Melbourne City's U15, U16, U18 & U21 squads respectively for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons respectively, Stella was promoted to the Senior NPL/VPL squad for the 2023 season. Stella made a total of 52 appearances across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons combined, scoring three goals.[7][8]
Stella would make his only appearance for the A-League squad of Melbourne City on 30 July 2025 in the 2025 Australia Cup round of 32 clash against APIA Leichhardt, coming onto the field as a substitute at the 61st minute.[9][10]
Melbourne Victory 2025–Present
In September 2025, Stella joined cross-town rivals and childhood supporting club, Melbourne Victory, on a senior contract for the 2025–26 season.[11] He made his A‑League Men debut on 18 October 2025 in a 0–0 draw against Auckland FC at AAMI Park, starting as the deepest midfielder and playing 68 minutes until he was substituted for Juan Mata.[12][13]
As of 6 January 2026, he had made five league appearances for Victory in the 2025–26 season.[14]
International career
Stella has represented Australia at under‑16 and under‑19 levels.[1][15]
Style of play
A deep‑lying midfielder noted for his composure and positional discipline, Stella was deployed as the anchor in a midfield three on his A‑League debut.[12]
Career statistics
As of 5 January 2026
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Continental | Other[b] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Melbourne City FC NPL/VPL | 2023 | NPL Victoria 2 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | Victorian Premier League 1 | 21 | 1 | — | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||||
| 2025 | Victorian Premier League 1 | 24 | 2 | — | — | — | 24 | 2 | ||||
| Melbourne City FC NPL/VPL Total | 52 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 3 | ||
| Melbourne City | 2024–25 | A-League Men | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Melbourne City Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne Victory | 2025–26 | A-League Men | 5 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Melbourne Victory Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||
| Career Total | 57 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 3 | ||
- ^ Includes Australia Cup
- ^ Includes A-League Men Finals series
References
- ^ a b "Xavier Stella". Melbourne Victory. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Xavier Stella – Melbourne Victory profile". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Victory's Xavier Stella treasuring every moment at boyhood club". Melbourne Victory. 5 November 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ https://footballvictoria.com.au/news/eight-victorians-named-subway-young-socceroos-squad-named-asean-u-19-boys-championship
- ^ https://footballaustralia.com.au/news/watch-under-16-national-talent-identification-camp-match
- ^ https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=202856445&client=1-10178-151209-513774-26156082&ocompID=513774
- ^ https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=207233930&client=0-10178-196649-554070-26644016
- ^ https://maps.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=210985672&client=0-8746-210513-644366-27183125
- ^ https://www.flashscore.com.au/match/football/apia-leichhardt-84SKUunL/melbourne-city-OKfoGJBe/
- ^ https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20250730-aus-cup-match-report/
- ^ "Melbourne Victory sign rising stars including Xavier Stella". A‑Leagues. 1 September 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ a b "City academy product shines on Victory debut: 'How did he end up there?'". A‑Leagues. 21 October 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Xavier Stella (Midfielder, Melbourne Victory)". Ultimate A‑League. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "2025–26 A‑League Men statistics". ESPN. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Xavier Stella — worldfootball.net profile". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 January 2026.