6Clare May Wheeler is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Everton Women in England’s Women’s Super League and represents the CommBank Matildas. Born in Coffs Harbour and raised in Newcastle, she is known for her work rate, defensive contribution, composure in possession and ability to control midfield areas. As at 24 August 2026, her most recent verified professional context is Everton and the Australian national team.
Clare May Wheeler was born in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, on 14 January 1998 and was raised in Newcastle. She began playing football at about 10 years of age after a friend encouraged her to join in, later developing through Adamstown Rosebud and Northern NSW Football. Wheeler progressed into the Newcastle Jets senior side at 15 and spent approximately seven years with the club before moving to Sydney FC for the 2020–21 season.
A combative central or defensive midfielder, Wheeler contributes through ball recovery, pressing, positional discipline and reliable distribution. Football Australia describes her as a hard-working midfielder with a composed, possession-based game. She has also been identified as a player capable of running matches from the middle of the park and has captained Everton.
Wheeler made her first move overseas in July 2021, joining Danish club Fortuna Hjørring. She subsequently moved to Everton on loan in August 2022 before completing a permanent transfer in January 2023. Everton remains her most recent verified club, with the provider record listing her as active for Everton Women.
At international level, Wheeler made her senior Australia debut against the Republic of Ireland on 21 September 2021. She was involved in the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad and the Australian team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Football Australia lists her as a fourth-major-tournament squad member for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Her national-team profile records Australian cap number 213 and 42 caps with three goals, although historical databases can differ depending on match-counting conventions.
Away from football, Wheeler completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney and worked in financial services while building her football career. She has spoken publicly about wanting an education and professional identity alongside football.
Wheeler’s first major senior breakthrough came when she was selected by Newcastle Jets at age 15. She then established herself over roughly seven seasons with the club before earning a move to Sydney FC and, subsequently, an overseas contract with Fortuna Hjørring. Her senior Australia debut followed on 21 September 2021 against the Republic of Ireland.
Football Australia’s player profile records 42 senior Australia caps and three goals, with Australian cap number 213, as displayed on the source profile accessed for this record. Earlier Football Australia media-guide statistics recorded 14 appearances and no goals through 30 June 2023. Public statistical databases list 67 Newcastle Jets appearances, 12 Sydney FC appearances, 21 Fortuna Hjørring league appearances with two goals, and Everton league-season totals of 17 appearances in 2022–23, 22 in 2023–24, 19 in 2024–25 and 20 in 2025–26; these club figures should be treated as database-reported rather than an official unified career total.
Key defining moments include her senior Australia debut against the Republic of Ireland in September 2021; her starting involvement during the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup; selection in Australia’s 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad during the Matildas’ run to the semi-finals; selection for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games; and her progression from an Everton loan player to a permanent member of the squad and occasional captain.