After strong season with Melbourne City, Kyah Simon is ready to take on a new challenge in Europe.
Kyah Simon’s move to PSV couldn’t have come at a better time.
The 29-year-old heads into the Dutch Eredivise Vrouen season with a premiership championship double with Melbourne City in the Westfield W-League under her belt.
However, the trophies were only part of the success of the season for the recently injury-ravaged Simon.
“I want to build on the Westfield W-League season that I just had with Melbourne City,” Simon said.
“It was a real personal highlight to get through the whole season and to play most minutes injury free. For me I just want to build on the match minutes.”
After spending the last seven years splitting her time between the United States and Australia, Simon has this time around opted for the European summer. A move to Europe has been a goal for Simon and she intends to make her mark with her first foray into the continent.
“Europe's always been on my football bucket list. I really enjoy the European style of play. I actually think it suits me as a player more.
It's something I've wanted to do for a fair few years now and it was just a matter of biting the bullet and choosing the right time and that presented itself this year."
“I definitely see myself for the rest of my career staying in Europe. I think there’s so many good quality players here. I love the European culture as well and I'd love to call Europe home for the next little bit at least.”
It’s not only a location change that Simon is undergoing, it’s also positional one. After starting out her career as an out and out striker, scoring plenty of famous goals for the Westfield Matildas, Simon has moved down the pitch into a number 10 playmaker role.
However, the move to PSV provides Simon the opportunity to return to her roots in a way.
“It's quite refreshing,” Simon said.
I'm actually playing up front here for PSV so that's been really nice and given me almost a new lease on playing again, and just feeling like an out and out striker again which I haven't had for a few years now. So that's made me excited."
“It's only been the last few years I would say that I've transitioned a little bit more into that 10 role. I still don't have a preference, but I think deep down I enjoy being a striker. I think that's really where I belong only because I've played so many of my younger years in that position.”
All of the changes are with an eye to the next four years of major tournaments for the Westfield Matildas. After 12 years on the national team, it is those moments on the world stage that push the attacker on the training pitch.
“I've got a challenge for myself to be in the best shape of my career,” she stated.
“That's the goal that I'm setting, personally, for myself to give myself the best chance and opportunity to represent our country at another Olympic Games next year.”
For now, club commitments are front of mind. The pre-season with PSV has been an active one and Simon has already found herself on the scoresheet.
The 2020/21 season will see Simon and her teammates in action at home and in Europe with the Dutch season starting in the first week of September and round of 32 matches for the UEFA Women’s Champions League scheduled for November.
After months off earlier this year due to COVID-19, Simon can’t wait for it all.
“I'm just excited to be back playing now after no football for a little while there.”
“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and being back in that front line and hopefully scoring a few goals.”