Northern Ireland midfielder leaves Australian club after two years in A-League
Northern Ireland international Alfie McCalmont has left A-League club Central Coast Mariners after two seasons in Australia.
The former Leeds United youngster joined the Mariners from Carlisle United in 2024 and registered 40 league appearances, scoring five times.
He also featured during the Mariners’ AFC Champions League campaign, playing in all seven of their group games.
McCalmont made his Northern Ireland debut as a substitute in a 1–0 win against Luxembourg in September 2019 under Michael O’Neill and also featured during the country’s 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
In total, the 26-year-old has earned four international caps and is now available as a free agent after the Mariners confirmed his exit.
The club posted: “We can confirm Alfie McCalmont's departure from the Mariners. The club would like to thank Alfie for his contributions on and off the field. We wish him all the best for the future.”
McCalmont worked with his former Leeds academy coaches Mark Jackson and Danny Schofield after joining the Australian side in 2024 – the Mariners had won two consecutive A-League titles prior to his arrival.
Thirsk-born McCalmont represented Northern Ireland at various underage levels before developing into a senior star.
Reflecting on making his Northern Ireland debut, McCalmont said at the time: “It was really unexpected as we have the Euro Qualifiers for the U21s coming up, and we've been doing a lot of preparation for that.
"I missed the first day of training as I was playing for Leeds [U23s] against Bristol City on the Sunday, but Michael O'Neill spoke to me afterwards and said that I'll be training with the senior side in Belfast the following day.
"He said if I do well, and he likes what he sees, he'll involve me in the squad for the game against Luxembourg, which he did.
"I knew before the game that I'd be playing some minutes, but didn't know how long for.
"I was the first substitute to come on, so I just had to get my head in the game, and then just play as I do normally, but it was such a good feeling to play at Windsor, especially in front of the Northern Ireland fans.
"They were class. Every time I've been to watch a Northern Ireland game with the U21s the atmosphere has always been amazing, and Windsor reminds me a lot of Elland Road."