{{Short description|Iraqi Australian soccer player (born 2007)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Danella Butrus | image = | caption = | full_name = Danella Khalid Butrus | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2007|2|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Duhok, Iraq | height = | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Melbourne City | clubnumber = 7 | youthyears1 = –2024 | youthclubs1 = Roxburgh Park FC | years1 = 2023–2025 | clubs1 = FV Emerging | caps1 = 29 | goals1 = 8 | years2 = 2025– | clubs2 = Bulleen Lions | caps2 = 22 | goals2 = 11 | years3 = 2025– | clubs3 = Melbourne City | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2024 | nationalteam1 = Australia U17 | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 = | nationalyears2 = 2025– | nationalteam2 = Australia U20 | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 1 | club-update = 4 January 2026 | ntupdate = 14 April 2026 }}
'''Danella Khalid Butrus'''{{efn|{{langx|syr|ܕܢܝܠܐ ܚܐܠܕ ܒܛܪܘܣ}}, {{IPA|syr|daˈniːla ħɑːld bˤtˤruːs|}}; {{langx|ar|دانيلا خالد بطرس}}, {{IPA|ar|daːˈniː.la ˈxaː.lɪd ˈbu.tˤrʊs|}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPFbTQ1j0yF/?igsh=anNucW40dGc2OTBj |title=Instagram |publisher=aleagues |date=27 September 2025 |access-date=8 October 2025 }}</ref>}} (born 13 February 2007) is a soccer player who plays as a midfielder for A-League Women club Melbourne City.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://melbournecityfc.com.au/player/danella-butrus/|title=Danella Butrus|publisher=Melbourne City}}</ref> Born in Iraq, she plays for the Australia under-20 national team.<ref name="fbaus">{{Cite web |url=https://footballaustralia.com.au/news/danella-butrus-football-united-us |title=Danella Butrus: 'Football united us' |first=Taryn |last=Heddo |publisher=Football Australia |date=4 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240506094432/https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/danella-butrus-football-united-us |archive-date=6 May 2024 |access-date=4 January 2026 }}</ref> She is regarded as a rising star in Australian women's soccer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/sport/who-are-the-young-victorians-hoping-to-become-the-next-stars-of-the-matildas/news-story/fa3acd6571dfb1972b2f866693fc1eca?amp&nk=cc6daa387480d2245154e1847ff651cf-1767431466|title=Who are the young Victorians hoping to become the next stars of the Matildas?|first=Ben|last=Higgins|publisher=Herald Sun|date=7 December 2024}}</ref>
==Early life== Butrus was born in the city of Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 13 February 2007,<ref name="ALeague 2025-26 Guide">{{Cite web |url=https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/10/Ninja_A-League_2025-26_Season_Guide-1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251103014634/https://aleagues.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2025/10/Ninja_A-League_2025-26_Season_Guide-1.pdf |title=Ninja_A-League_2025-26_Season_Guide-1.pdf |publisher=A-Leagues Media Centre |date=31 October 2025 |access-date=4 January 2026 |archive-date=3 November 2025 }}</ref>{{rp|83}} in an Assyrian family.<ref name="sbsassyrian">{{Cite web |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/assyrian/en/podcast-episode/talented-danella-rising-star-from-roxburgh-park-joins-junior-matildas-for-u17-womens-world-cup-glory/lie0qalwv |title=Matildas joy: Rising Roxburgh Park star joins national side |publisher=SBS Assyrian |first=Ninos |last=Emmanuel |date=21 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121143311/https://www.sbs.com.au/language/assyrian/en/podcast-episode/talented-danella-rising-star-from-roxburgh-park-joins-junior-matildas-for-u17-womens-world-cup-glory/lie0qalwv |archive-date=21 November 2023 |access-date=4 January 2026 }}</ref> She fled Iraq with her family due to regional armed conflict, first settling in Syria and then continuing to Australia in 2013. She arrived in Australia with limited knowledge of the English language and learnt English as a second language at school.<ref name="fbaus"/>
Butrus attended Wallan Secondary College in the town of Wallan, Victoria, located {{convert|45|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Melbourne CBD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wallansc.vic.edu.au/articles/1139|title=Danella is a CommBank Junior Matilda!|publisher=Wallan Secondary College}}</ref> She played soccer as a forward for Roxburgh Park United,<ref name="Rox v Sydham">{{cite web |url=https://www.mcsafootball.org.au/event/38413/ |title=Roxburgh Park United vs Sydenham Park Soccer Club |website=MCSA (Melbourne Chinese Soccer Association) |date=5 December 2021 |via=National Library of Australia |archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20220328104541/https://www.mcsafootball.org.au/event/38413/ |archive-date=28 March 2022 |access-date=4 January 2026 }}</ref> in the Victorian State League (Division 5 North) during her youth years ({{fl.|2021}}),<ref name="ALeague 2025-26 Guide" />{{rp|83}}<ref name="Rox v Sydham" /> where she was described as a promising young talent.<ref name="sbsassyrian"/> At the club, she was surrounded by fellow Iraqi teammates, though most of them were unable to pursue a career in soccer due to persistent misogynistic views on women in sport in Iraqi culture.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/arabic/en/article/these-girls-dream-of-playing-for-the-matildas-but-family-reluctance-can-be-a-roadblock-says-winning-coach/bctu0kd07|title=These girls dream of playing for the Matildas but family "reluctance" can be a roadblock, says winning coach|first=Saleem|last=Al-Fahad|publisher=SBS Arabic|date=11 July 2023}}</ref>
==Club career==
===FV Emerging=== Butrus began her senior career at National Premier Leagues Victoria Women club (NPL Victoria Women) FV Emerging in 2023.<ref name="vicstate">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wallansc.vic.edu.au/articles/1087|title=Congratulations Danella Butrus!|publisher=Wallan Secondary College}}</ref>
Butrus secured a move to Bulleen Lions following a standout season at FV Emerging in 2024, in which she made 29 appearances and scored eight goals.<ref name="nplvic">{{Cite web|url=https://footballvictoria.com.au/news/danella-butrus-steals-spotlight-2025-nplw-gold-medal|title=Danella Butrus steals the spotlight with 2025 NPLW Gold Medal|publisher=Football Victoria|date=24 September 2025}}</ref>
===Bulleen Lions=== Staying in the National Premier Leagues Victoria Women (NPL Victoria Women) Butrus signed for Bulleen Lions ahead of the 2025 season.<ref name="nplvic"/>
On 8 January, Butrus scored in the FV Women's Community Shield, which Bulleen Lions lifted following a 4–2 win over Heidelberg United at The Home of the Matildas in Melbourne.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://impetusfootball.org/2025/03/07/bulleen-lift-community-shield-with-win-against-heidelberg-united/|title=Bulleen lift Community Shield with win against Heidelberg United|first=Kieran|last=Yap|publisher=Impetus Football|date=8 January 2025}}</ref> On 30 August, she scored her first hat-trick of her career, scoring three goals in an 8–0 win over Brunswick Juventus in round 22.<ref name="nplvic"/>
At the end of the season, Butrus had played 22 matches and scored 11 goals. Her standout season saw her win the NPLW Gold Medal (which she shared with Spring Hills FC's Aleks Sinclair), NPLW Media Player of the Year and NPLW Goal of the Year (for her bicycle kick against Boroondara Eagles) at the end of season awards ceremony. Having received 27 votes, Butrus became the first teenager to win the NPLW Gold Medal since Mindy Barbieri in 2018.<ref name="nplvic"/>
===Melbourne City=== Butrus signed for Melbourne City ahead of the 2025–26 A-League Women season, signing alongside five other young players (Ayana Aoyagi, Dani Gorr Burchmore, Kaya Jugović, Izabella Rako and Keira Sarris).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20250925-alw-signings/|title=City strengthens women's squad with next generation of talent|publisher=Melbourne City|date=25 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/melbourne-city-junior-matildas-signing-jugovic-rako-sarris-butrus-gorr-aoyagi-burchmore/|title=Premiers announce SIX new signings, including Junior Matildas captain and history-making teen|publisher=A-Leagues|date=25 September 2025}}</ref> She debuted for Melbourne City in the opening round of the season on 1 November 2025, coming on as a substitute in the 87th minute of a 2–2 draw away to Sydney FC.<ref name="contract2027">{{Cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20251205-butrus-re-signs/|title=Butrus extends City stay after standout start to professional career|publisher=Melbourne City|date=5 December 2025}}</ref> On 14 November 2025, Butrus scored her first professional goal, having scored from a tight angle in a 5–0 win over Singaporean Women's Premier League (SWPL) side Lion City Sailors in the group stage of the AFC Women's Champions League (AWCL),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://football360.com.au/afc-womens-champions-league-melbourne-city-stallion-laguna-butrus-rainbow-skill-video-reaction-mcnamara-injury-latest-update/|title=Aussie teen who scored 117 goals in a season announces herself in the Champions League|first=Jake|last=Rosengarten|publisher=Football360|date=14 November 2025}}</ref> before scoring again in Melbourne City's 7–0 win over PFF Women's League side Stallion Laguna.<ref name="rainbowflick">{{Cite web|url=https://football360.com.au/afc-womens-champions-league-melbourne-city-stallion-laguna-butrus-rainbow-skill-video-reaction-mcnamara-injury-latest-update/|title=Aussie teen's "ridiculous" skill stuns as history made in brutal Champions League rout|first=Jake|last=Rosengarten|publisher=Football360|date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
In December 2025, following standout performances in her first five games at the club, Butrus extended her contract with Melbourne City through to 2027.<ref name="contract2027"/> She was particularly impactful in the club's three Champions League group stage matches in Vietnam, providing two goals and three assists,<ref name="contract2027"/> as well as performing an impressive rainbow flick.<ref name="rainbowflick"/>
==State career== Butrus was selected to play for Victoria at the 2023 Emerging Matildas Championships in Wollongong, New South Wales. In Pool A, she scored goals in two consecutive matches against Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, before scoring a glut (five goals) against Western Australia. She then scored once again in the semi-final against South Australia which sent Victoria to the final, where they were defeated by hosts New South Wales Metro at Wollongong Showground.<ref name="vicstate"/>
==International career== Butrus has represented Australia for the under-17s (Junior Matildas), and has been called for the under-20s (Young Matildas).
Butrus was part of Rae Dower's 23-player squad at the 2024 AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup. The tournament was seen as a failure for the Junior Matildas, which finished last in their Group B.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballaustralia.com.au/news/dower-finalises-commbank-junior-matildas-squad-afc-u17-womens-asian-cup-indonesia-2024tm|title=Dower finalises CommBank Junior Matildas squad for AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Indonesia 2024|date=17 April 2024|publisher=Football Australia}}</ref>
Butrus was named for the Young Matildas in Alex Epakis' squad for a two-game friendly series against South Korea at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra on 28 and 30 November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/young-matildas-squad-korea-republic-friendlies-full-list-details/|title=22 A-Leagues rising stars picked for Young Matildas duty ahead of two-game friendly series|first=Matt|last=Comito|publisher=A-Leagues|date=20 November 2025}}</ref> However, she withdrew from the squad alongside Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Talia Younis due to both having injuries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballaustralia.com.au/news/commbank-young-matildas-squad-update?page=100|title=CommBank Young Matildas squad update|publisher=Football Australia|date=27 November 2025}}</ref>
Butrus was selected by Epakis as part of Australia's 23-player squad for the 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup in Thailand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footballaustralia.com.au/news/commbank-young-matildas-reveal-squad-afc-u-20-womens-asian-cup-2026tm|title=CommBank Young Matildas reveal squad for AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup 2026™|publisher=Football Australia|date=24 March 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Butrus is of Assyrian descent<ref name="sbsassyrian"/> and is a Syriac Christian.
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Sports links}}
{{Melbourne City FC (women) squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Butrus, Danella}} Category:Living people Category:2007 births Category:Australian women's soccer players Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen Category:Melbourne City FC (women) players Category:Australia women's international soccer players Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Soccer players from Melbourne Category:Australian people of Iraqi-Assyrian descent Category:Assyrian footballers