Jake joins Scottish club Motherwell on three-year deal
Jack Girdwood-Reich, who played for A-League champs Auckland, has joined SPL club Motherwell.
Fresh from helping Auckland FC win an A-League title while on loan from US Major League Soccer club St Louis City, Jewish Sydneysider Jake Girdwood-Reich last Friday officially joined Scottish Premier League (SPL) side Motherwell.
The talented 22-year-old Jewish centre-back was transferred from St Louis City – whom he’d played in 23 games for before playing a full season for Auckland – for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.
Also a former Sydney FC star, Girdwood-Reich’s move instantly doubles the number of Jewish Australians playing in Scotland’s top professional league, with fellow Sydney native, 23-year-old prolific striker Zac Sapsford, about to start his second season there, for Dundee United, as their top goalscorer.
Sapsford scored nine goals in the 2025-26 SPL season, and two in other competitions, and has continued that form this month in the Premier Sports Cup pre-season tournament, scoring three goals in four games. Dundee United will host Rangers in their opening 2026-27 SPL game.
Girdwood-Reich will sloted into Motherwell’s squad in time for its Europa Conference League home fixture against Faroe Islands Havnar Bóltfelag on July 23, which Motherwell one 2-0, and he will also play in the away tie on July 31, ahead of the first round of the SPL on August 2, when Motherwell travels to Hibernian.
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