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Jake Girdwood-Reich

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Jake Girdwood-Reich
Girdwood-Reich warming up for Sydney FC vs Brisbane Roar 24 April 2023
Personal information
Full name Jake Max Girdwood-Reich[1]
Date of birth (2004-05-26) 26 May 2004 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth Clovelly, Australia[2]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Motherwell
Number 3
Youth career
2012–2013 Sydney Olympic
2014 St Johnstone
2016 APIA Leichhardt
2017–2020 Sydney FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 Sydney FC NPL[3][4] 33 (1)
2022–2024 Sydney FC 39 (1)
2024–2025 St. Louis City 2 2 (0)
2024–2026 St. Louis City SC 18 (0)
2025–2026 → Auckland FC (loan) 29 (2)
2026– Motherwell 2 (0)
International career‡
2023 Australia U20 2 (0)
2024 Australia U23 2 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Australia
WAFF U-23 Championship
Runner-up2024 Saudi Arabia
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21 August 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 24 March 2024

Jake Max Girdwood-Reich (Yiddish: [raɪx] rike;[5] born 26 May 2004) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defensive midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell. A versatile player, Girdwood-Reich can also be deployed as a central defender.[6]

Early life

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Jake Max Girdwood-Reich was born on 26 May 2004[1] in Clovelly, New South Wales .[7] He is of Jewish descent through his mother, with his maternal grandmother is a Holocaust survivor, and Scottish descent through his father.[8] His mother briefly worked with UNICEF in Sydney, which eventually partnered with Sydney FC in 2012.[9] Girdwood-Reich grew up a Sydney FC supporter and became a member when he was six years old.[10]

He is also a supporter of Premier League club Arsenal and Scottish Premiership club Rangers through the influence of the Scottish family of his father. Girdwood-Reich attended Clovelly Public School and Endeavour Sports High School, playing for both the school football teams and state school teams.[11][12] Outside of school, he played junior football for Sydney University, Sydney Olympic and Scottish club St Johnstone.[12] Girdwood-Reich later played in the under-13s for APIA Leichhardt before signing for Sydney FC Youth at the age of 12.[12][13] He also played futsal for Mascot Vipers and the NSW representative futsal team.[12][14]

Club career

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Sydney FC

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Girdwood-Reich made his professional debut in an Australia Cup Round of 32 match for Sydney against Central Coast Mariners on 31 July 2022.[15] He made his A-League Men debut for the club as a substitute on 29 October 2022 against Macarthur FC.[16]

Jake won the Sydney FC Rising Star Award at the 2022 Sky Blue Awards night shortly after being promoted to the A-League from the NPL squad.[17] 2024 was selected for the PFA Players A League Team of the Season.

St. Louis City SC

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After a standout 2023–24 A-League season, Girdwood-Reich was sold to Major League Soccer expansion club St. Louis City SC for an undisclosed amount,[18] believed to exceed the $1.3 million[19] record set by Adrian Mierzejewski.

Loan to Auckland FC

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On 16 September 2025, Girdwood-Reich joined Auckland FC on loan for the 2025–26 season as an injury replacement for Nando Pijnaker, reuniting with head coach Steve Corica.[20] He made his Auckland FC debut in a 0–0 draw in round 1 against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park.[21]

On 20 February 2026, Girdwood-Reich featured in his third New Zealand derby. After scooping the ball high following a clearance, he inadvertently pressured the Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi into heading the ball into his own net. Auckland FC went on to win 5–0, securing victory in all three derbies of the season, with Girdwood-Reich playing the full 90 minutes in each match.[22]

Girdwood-Reich scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat to Macarthur at Mount Smart Stadium, becoming Auckland FC's youngest goalscorer.[23][24] He scored once more in a 3–0 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium in the second leg of the finals series,[25][26] helping Auckland progress to the Grand Final before ultimately winning the A-League Men Championship.[27]

Motherwell

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On 15 July 2026, Girdwood-Reich joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell F.C. for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract until 2029.[28][29]

International career

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First representation honours for Girdwood-Reich came in the COVID affected 2019 U17 FIFA World Cup. After playing in all three games in the qualifying tournament in Hanoi, the finals tournament and the World Cup itself were both cancelled due to COVID-19.[30]

Jake's first post-COVID-19 opportunity arose in 2023, with selection for the U20 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament in Uzbekistan at age 18,[30] where Australia were eliminated by the hosts in the quarter-finals.[31]

In 2024, at age 19, Girdwood-Reich was selected for the U23 Olyroos, to compete in the 2024 WAFF U-23 Championship.[32] He was subsequently selected again for the squad that competed in the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup[33] but did not progress beyond the group stage.

Career statistics

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As of 21 August 2026
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sydney FC 2022–23[34] A-League Men 14010 ——150
2023–24[34] 25150 ——301
Total 39160 ——451
St. Louis City SC 2024 MLS 8000 4 0—120
2025 10 0 1 0 0 0 — 11 0
Auckland FC (loan) 2025–26 A-League Men 25 1 0 0 — 4[c] 1 29 2
Total 43150 4 04 1522
Motherwell FC 2026–27 Scottish Premiership 2 0 0 0 1 0 5[d] 0 8 0
Career total 842110 5 0911053

Notes

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Honours

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Player

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Sydney FC

Australia U-23

Auckland FC

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "J. Girdwood-Reich: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Girdwood-Reich Signs New Three Year Contract". Sydney FC. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023. Clovelly-born Girdwood-Reich has played...
  3. ↑ "Jake Girdwood-Reich". Football NSW. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "Player statistics for Jake Girdwood-Reich – GameDay". My GameDay. 7 November 2022.
  5. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO7XCmGCfrr/?igsh=MWkzYWk3ZmFjd2NpYw==
  6. ↑ "St. Louis CITY acquire Jake Girdwood-Reich from Sydney FC". MLSsoccer staff. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Benjamin, Jonathan (20 November 2022). "Girdwood-Reich nets Israeli's jersey". J-Wire. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Motchan, Bill (6 June 2024). "St. Louis City SC signs Jewish Australian midfielder". STL Jewish Light.
  9. ↑ "Sydney FC's Unicef Partnership Given Thumbs Up". Sydney FC. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  10. ↑ "Sydney FC's Most Loyal Fan Turned Player?". Sydney FC. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ambitious Youngster Girdwoood-Reich Making His Mark In The NPL". Sydney FC. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Benjamin, Jonathan (12 June 2022). "Jake signs with Sydney FC". J-Wire. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Jake earns contract extension with Sky Blues". Australian Jewish News. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  14. ↑ Benjamin, Jonathan (3 November 2022). "Two mates debut the A-League". J-Wire. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners – Australia Cup Match Centre". Australia Cup. 31 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Macarthur FC vs Sydney FC". KEEPUP. 29 October 2022.
  17. ↑ davidw (10 June 2022). "Sky Blue Ball Awards Winners Crowned". Sydney FC. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "Sydney FC Academy Graduate Sold For Record Transfer Fee". Sydney FC. 4 June 2024.
  19. ↑ Monterverde, Marco (4 June 2024). "Sydney FC secures million-dollar transfer amount for young star heading to Major League Soccer". news.com.au. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  20. ↑ "Jake Girdwood-Reich reunited with Steve Corica at Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Post-Match Report: Melbourne Victory 0–0 Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  22. ↑ Rollo, Phillip. "Wellington Phoenix humiliated as own goal sparks 5-0 thrashing by Auckland FC". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  23. ↑ ahayes (22 March 2026). "RD 22 Match Report: Auckland FC 1 - 2 Macarthur FC". Auckland. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  24. ↑ Burgess, Michael. "Auckland FC blow chance to go top with loss to Macarthur". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  25. ↑ ibenet (15 May 2026). "Semi Final Leg 2 Match Report: Adelaide United 0 - 3 Auckland FC (1-4 Aggregate)". Auckland. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Burgess, Michael. "Auckland FC stun Adelaide to reach A-League grand final with brilliant performance". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  27. ↑ Burgess, Michael. "Champions! Auckland FC win A-League title". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  28. ↑ "Motherwell signing Jake Girdwood-Reich 'impressed' by boss Johansson". BBC Sport. 15 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  29. ↑ Gibson, Scott (15 July 2026). "Jake Girdwood-Reich makes the move to ML1". Motherwell Football Club. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  30. 1 2 "The dreams turning into reality: Jake becomes a Young Socceroo". jwire.com.au. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  31. ↑ "AFC U20 Asian Cup 2023 Fixtures & Standings". the-afc.com. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  32. ↑ "Subway Olyroos to participate in WAFF U23 Championship in Saudi Arabia". socceroos.com.au. 7 March 2024.
  33. ↑ "Subway Olyroos' squad for AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ confirmed | Football Australia". 4 April 2024.
  34. 1 2 "J. Lolley: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  35. ↑ Clarke, George (7 October 2023). "Sydney FC beat Brisbane Roar 3–1 to win Australia Cup". The Singleton Argus. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  36. ↑ "Subway Olyroos' Head Coach, Tony Vidmar has named an extended 26-man squad for the fifth edition of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-23 Championship – Saudi Arabia 2024". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
  37. ↑ Dodd, James (23 May 2026). "Auckland crowned Isuzu UTE A-League Champions after knocking off Sydney FC". A-Leagues. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  38. ↑ Rollo, Phillip (16 May 2024). "Wellington Phoenix dominate PFA A-League Men team of the season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
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