Xavier Stella
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Xavier Nicholas Stella | ||
| Date of birth | August 21, 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Melbourne Victory | ||
| Number | 34 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Moreland City | |||
| Templestowe United | |||
| Hume City | |||
| 2019 | Northcote City | ||
| 2020–2025 | Melbourne City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2025 | Melbourne City NPL/VPL | 52 | (3) |
| 2025 | Melbourne City | 0 | (0) |
| 2025– | Melbourne Victory | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2022 | Australia U16 | ||
| 2025– | Australia U19 | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Xavier Stella (Italian: [ˈstɛlla]; born 21 August 2006) is an Australian professional association football player who currently plays as a defender for A-League club Melbourne Victory.[1][2]
Stella grew up in Melbourne’s northern suburbs and supported Melboourne Victory.[3] He played junior football with Moreland City,[4] Templestowe United,[5] Hume City,[3] and Northcote City[6] respectively, before joining Melbourne City’s youth academy from the 2020 season onwards.
Club career
Melbourne City 2022–2025
After featuring for Melbourne City's U15, U16, U18 & U21 squads respectively for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons respectively, Stella was promoted to the Senior NPL/VPL squad for the 2023 season. Stella made a total of 52 appearances across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons combined, scoring three goals.[7][8]
Stella would make his only appearance for the A-League squad of Melbourne City on 30 July 2025 in the 2025 Australia Cup round of 32 clash against APIA Leichhardt, coming onto the field as a substitute at the 61st minute.[9][10]
Melbourne Victory 2025–Present
In September 2025, Stella joined cross-town rivals and childhood supporting club, Melbourne Victory, on a senior contract for the 2025–26 season.[11] He made his A‑League Men debut on 18 October 2025 in a 0–0 draw against Auckland FC at AAMI Park, starting as the deepest midfielder and playing 68 minutes until he was substituted for Juan Mata.[12][13]
As of 6 January 2026, he had made five league appearances for Victory in the 2025–26 season.[14]
International career
Style of play
A deep‑lying midfielder noted for his composure and positional discipline, Stella was deployed as the anchor in a midfield three on his A‑League debut.[12]