Reading FC Women are pleased to announce the signing of Brooke Hendrix, who will be joining from A-League’s Melbourne Victory on a two-year deal.
The 29-year-old started her career with USL W-League Atlanta Silverbacks before representing Rangers in the Scottish Division, FC Staad in Switzerland, Fylkir in Iceland, Brescia in the Italian Women’s Serie A, and West Ham United in the Barclays Women’s Super League, over a seven-year time frame.
Hendrix becomes Chambers’ first summer signing of the campaign, after securing the futures of Deanna Cooper, Lily Woodham, Tia Primmer, and most recently Emma Mitchell.
The 29-year-old joins the Royals after a successful season at A-League outfit Melbourne Victory, as Hendrix’s arrival kickstarted a turnaround in the club’s fortunes. She instantly impressed scoring on her debut against Newcastle Jets in a 1-0 win, and continued to put in commanding defensive displays helping Victory get to the Grand Final.
Hendrix continued to play an integral role in the heart of Victory’s defence, helping her side sure up their defence who would only lose two out of the eight games.
More impressively though, the average number of goals conceded dropped to 0.9 compared to the team average of 2.2 per game before she arrived. Victory were then crowned Women’s A-League Champions in March 2022, as they overcame Sydney FC in the Grand Final.
Brooke undoubtedly will bring a wealth of experience with her, having featured in some of the top leagues around the world. Best of all, Hendrix has experience playing within the Barclays Women’s Super League following a spell with West Ham United during 2018-2019, where she featured in every league match helping the Hammers finish seventh.
Hendrix highlighted how enthusiastic conversations between her and Kelly made it a really easy decision to come back to England, due to a shared passion for improving as a player and women’s football as a whole, “I'm really glad to finally get here,” Brooke started. “I've been looking forward to it for a while now, I love the new facilities, meeting the players. Everyone's been so kind and welcoming, so I couldn’t be happier, it's been great so far.
“From my first conversation with Kelly [Chambers], I was just amazed with how passionate she is about the game. You can feel that throughout all the coaching staff, and as a player you’re just really encouraged about their passion, teamwork as you know they’ll give it everything to make you the best player you can be.
“Having been a part of the WSL from my time with West Ham, I always wanted to come back to England. Getting to compete against some of the best in the world, with players who are all passionate about growing the women’s game, it’s such a brilliant environment to be involved in.
“For me, this season is all about playing consistently at a high level. Since I left England, I’ve not been able to play as often as I would like for many reasons, so I want to find that rhythm again, solidify the backline, and of course help us win games.
“The girls did so well last season with their record unbeaten run, now we have to try and go one better, and I want to help be a part of that.”
Brooke undoubtedly will bring a wealth of experience with her, having featured in some of the top leagues around the world. Best of all, Hendrix has experience playing within the Barclays Women’s Super League following a spell with West Ham United during 2018-2019, where she featured in every league match helping the Hammers finish seventh.
On the addition, Chambers spoke about the importance of the winning mentality Brooke will bring to the dressing room, and the type of defender she has added to the Royals ranks.
“For us we wanted to add more depth, with players who can push us to reach higher levels, especially in those defensive areas.
“When Brooke came on the radar for us, for me, it was exciting to have someone who experienced what it takes to compete in this league, but also an understanding on different scenarios that are asked of you as a player in other top leagues including America and Australia.
“I think she'll be a great addition to the squad and a personality that will definitely be infectious when she’s in the team.
“We’ve already seen from the first few days of training, the way she interacts with players and staff, that real winners mentality comes out. Then seeing the way she approaches her defensive duties, she’s a real diehard defender.
“But in terms of the group, I think she’ll play a really big role in helping us deliver on our standards, get to new levels, and help us in big moments during the season.”