Mary Fowler is flying back to club football in England after the Matildas’ two recent matches against South Korea – and photos from the airport show the Australian star travels on an Irish passport.

Fowler, 22, was born in Cairns, but qualifies for Irish citizenship via her father Kevin, who is from Dublin.

Daily Mail Australia understands Fowler uses an Irish passport as it one of the few that outranks the Australian version for ease of access to other countries.

The attacking ace, who made her Matildas debut in 2018, revealed she could have played for Ireland following an approach from their Football Association.

‘When you have the option to play for multiple nations, you do think about it because it’s a decision that will live with you for the rest of your career,’ she told FIFA in a 2023 interview.

Mary Fowler is England bound after leaving Australia following the Matildas’ two recent matches against South Korea – and she is travelling with an Irish passport (pictured)

Fowler, 22, was born in Cairns, but can use an Irish passport as her father Kevin is from Dublin

‘I felt very strongly connected to Australia because it’s where I was born, I have my friends there, I grew up there. So Australia ended up being the obvious choice.’

Fowler also has Papua New Guinean heritage , as her mother Nido is from a village near Port Moresby.

The Manchester City star began her football journey at Trinity Beach in Cairns, and soon caught the eye of representative scouts in Queensland, representing the Sunshine State in an under-12s tournament aged 10.

Next was a family move to Europe, where Fowler represented BVV Barendrecht in the Netherlands until she was 14.

The Young Matildas followed, before then Matildas coach Alen Stajcic handed Fowler a senior cap when she was just 15.

A move to French side Montpellier in 2020 was next, with Manchester City securing her services two years later.

Fast forward to 2025 and Fowler is an integral player for the Citizens and the Matildas.

Her high-profile romance with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary also ensures Fowler generates constant headlines off the pitch.

The couple recently caught up in Sydney and Newcastle, with their social media followers loving seeing the relationship blossom. 

Fowler’s relationship with NRL superstar Nathan Cleary is a constant talking point with Aussie sports fans

Fowler has left for the UK but her teammate Sam Kerr (pictured) was still in Sydney on Wednesday, training at the Sydney Swans’ gym

The superstar striker posted a message to the fans who greeted her in Australia, writing, ‘Thank you to everyone for all the love, support and warm welcome home’

The pair had also briefly caught up in America in February, with the 22-year-old taking part in the SheBelieves Cup.

Cleary was in the US with his Penrith teammates as the NRL launched the 2025 season in Las Vegas.

While Fowler had to fly out to be back in the UK in time for Manchester City’s FA Cup semi-final against local rival Manchester United on April 14, her Matildas teammate Sam Kerr has stayed on a bit longer.

The Chelsea striker – who trained with the national side but did not play in the friendlies against South Korea – showed her Instagram followers that she’s working out in the Sydney Swans’ gym in a post she made on Wednesday.

Prior to that, she had some kind words for the fans who greeted her in Australia, writing, ‘Thank you to everyone for all the love, support and warm welcome home’.