Shuttleworth becomes the 11th signing for Head Coach Garrath McPherson’s squad for the new campaign.
After making her Liberty A-League debut with the Roar towards the end of last season, the 19-year-old shot stopper is looking forward to what the coming season holds.
“I’m extremely excited about re-signing with the Roar and I hope to progress on what we did as a team at the end of last year because I know we have a quality side,” Shuttleworth said.
Shuttleworth began last season training with the Roar before signing her first professional contract with the club in December.
Her debut with the Roar came in the home defeat against Adelaide, taking over for an injured Mia Bailey before starting the remaining 4 games.
Thanks to a pair of clean sheets, Shuttleworth was a key part of the squad that claimed 10 points from those matches.
With many members of that squad returning for the 2022/23 Liberty A-League season, Shuttleworth is optimistic that they can harness the momentum from that run to start the new campaign.
“I was so happy to be able to make my debut, that was really exciting as well as getting a clean sheet which helped the team as well as a few wins, which was awesome!”
Despite only recently turning 19, Shuttleworth has already amassed an extensive and highly accomplished resume at NPL level.
The Moreton Bay junior trained with the QAS before joining Lions, where she made her senior debut in May 2019 against Gold Coast United.
In her time at Richlands, Shuttleworth was part of a squad that won 3 consecutive premierships, 3 consecutive Grand Finals and a Kappa Women’s Super Cup.
2020 saw Shuttleworth start the majority of games for Lions including the Grand Final, keeping a clean sheet in that fixture before starting for Queensland in the end-of-season Watson-O’Connor Cup clash against New South Wales.
In a fixture that featured Roar teammate Shea Connors, Shuttleworth was the star of the shootout, saving the crucial penalty to help Queensland win the match.
Shuttleworth returned to her junior club Moreton Bay United for the 2022 NPL Queensland season after last turning out for them in the Under 13’s in 2016.
She will be the Roar’s third signing from the Jets program for the coming season with Shuttleworth joining Sharn Freier and Georgia Beaumont in orange and black.
“I think they’re amazing players and amazing girls and I can’t wait to step on the field with them! It makes it much easier when you know your teammates and makes for a much more comfortable environment when you know how they like to play.”
After giving Shuttleworth the opportunity at the end of last season, Macpherson is looking forward to seeing what his young shot stopper has in store this season.
“Bella is a young Queensland goalkeeper with a huge amount of potential. She is a learner who has spent the Liberty A-League off season working on her game with the Future Matildas Program. She showed her qualities in the final matches of last season, and we are all excited to see where another season of A-League football takes her.”
CONFIRMED ROAR 2022/23 LIBERTY A-LEAGUE SQUAD
Eash Norrie (Lions FC)
Hollie Palmer (Capalaba FC)
Shea Connors (APIA Leichhardt)
Larissa Crummer (Capalaba FC)
Sharn Freier (Moreton Bay United)
Mariel Hecher (Lions FC)
Holly McQueen (Future Matildas/ Lions FC)
Katrina Gorry (Vittsjo GK)
Georgia Beaumont (Moreton Bay United)
Bella Shuttleworth (Moreton Bay United)
