Vienna Signs Top Talent Valentina Pötzl
Vienna’s women’s team continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the new season, securing another highly promising young player: 16-year-old midfielder Valentina Pötzl joins the club from the ÖFB Women’s Academy and is considered a major prospect for the future.
Following the signings of Alina Kerschbaumer, Denise Lueger, Klara Gorges, Anna Osl, Lara Felix, and Katharina Lichtenberger, Pötzl becomes the seventh new addition to the Blue and Yellows for the upcoming campaign.
Pötzl impresses with her energy, creativity, technical skill, and strong tackling. She has already made headlines with her exceptional ability, notably winning the “Goal of the Year” award from the Austrian FA (ÖFB). Her stunning strike against Spain in the first round of European Championship qualifying turned heads across the continent. At both the academy level and in the Austrian U17 national team — where she has already earned 22 caps — she has built a strong reputation.
In April, Pötzl suffered an ACL injury during U17 European Championship qualification and will not be available at the start of the season. However, Vienna sees tremendous long-term potential in her and never had any doubts about completing the transfer.
Head coach Mark Dobrounig expressed his enthusiasm: "Valentina combines dynamism, joy in the game, and technical ability at an exceptionally high level for her age. We were immediately convinced — not just by her footballing talent but also by her personality. Her injury was never a deal-breaker for us. We're looking forward to building a strong path together and will give her all the time she needs to fully recover. Our goal is to support her development and work together toward achieving both her personal and our team objectives."
Player profile: Valentina Pötzl
Born: December 13, 2008
Height: 1.60 m
Previous club: ÖFB Academy
Position: Midfield
