Norwegian forward Marie Dolvik Markussen signs with Newcastle Jets for 2020-21 A-League Women's season

After helping Valerenga win the Norway Cup on Sunday, the 24-year-old told Norwegian media she was headed to Australia to take up a four-month contract with the Jets.

When contacted by the Newcastle Herald on Monday, the Jets confirmed the key signing.

It will be the first international player the Jets have signed since the 2018-19 national women's season. In that campaign Newcastle featured four United States players in Arin Wright, Britt Eckerstrom, Taylor Smith and Katie Stengel.

Norwegian television station TV 2 reported on Sunday Markussen had signed a four-month contract with Newcastle from November 1 and would fly to Australia on November 8.

"It will be fun with something completely new," Markussen told TV 2.

"Different climate, new football, get more minutes in your legs now when it is pre-season here at home. I'm just going to drive on, really."

Markussen has played with Valerenga for the past four seasons and is understood to have been on contract with the club until 2022.

Newcastle have lacked firepower in the past two seasons and the Norwegian is likely to help in that department as the club chases a top-four finish.

Jets coach Ash Wilson had told the Newcastle Herald in October the club had recruited two internationals for the coming season but no other details were given at the time.

They have already confirmed the signings of 14 players with 11 returning from last campaign. The addition of Markussen takes the squad to 15 with three players still to come.

The Jets kicked off a six-week pre-season on October 25 and open their 2021-22 campaign at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium against Sydney on December 4.

Their first home game will be against Wellington Phoenix at McDonald Jones Stadium on December 10.

AAP reports: Matildas skipper Sam Kerr has booked a Wembley return with Chelsea defeating holders Manchester City 3-0 in the Women's FA Cup semi-finals.

At Wembley she will face an Arsenal squad which has Australian team-mates Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord and Lydia Williams, though only Foord played as they defeated Brighton 3-0 in the other semi-final.

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