Josh Cavallo, the trailblazing footballer who made history as the world’s first openly gay male top-flight professional footballer, has announced a major life transition. After years of breaking barriers in Australia’s A-League, Cavallo revealed on July 7 that he is leaving Adelaide United and relocating to the United Kingdom to begin a brand-new chapter – both personally and professionally. “It’s not goodbye forever,” Cavallo shared in a heartfelt Instagram post, “but now, it’s time to leave the nest with my fiancé by my side.”
The 26-year-old athlete, who came out publicly in 2021 in an emotional open letter, reflected on how living authentically transformed his life and career. “Football and life have taken me further than I ever imagined,” he wrote. “New opportunities have led to a new life waiting for us across the world.”
View this post on Instagram
Cavallo’s announcement included a pair of touching photos of him and his fiancé, Leighton Morrell, standing hand in hand on the pitch at Coopers Stadium – home of Adelaide United. It was a symbolic farewell to the place where Cavallo not only grew as a professional footballer but also made global headlines for his bravery and honesty.
From Closeted Teen to Global Role Model
In 2021, Cavallo’s decision to come out as gay while playing in a major league shattered a long-standing silence in men’s professional football. His open letter, published across social media, detailed his struggle with internalized shame and the fear that being gay would end his football career. “Growing up, I always felt the need to hide myself because I was ashamed,” Cavallo wrote at the time. “Ashamed I would never be able to do what I loved and be gay.”
His message quickly resonated around the world, drawing praise from LGBTQ+ advocates, fans, athletes, and even clubs across Europe’s top football leagues. Cavallo became more than just a player – he became a symbol of progress and resilience in a sport often marked by silence around LGBTQ+ issues.
Since then, Cavallo has used his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility in sports, sharing his story openly while continuing to play at the top level for Adelaide United. His presence on the field served as a living rebuttal to the long-standing myth that being gay and thriving in professional football are incompatible.
A New Chapter in the United Kingdom
While Cavallo has not disclosed which team he may be joining, multiple sources have confirmed to Outsports that several European clubs are already in talks to sign him.
For Cavallo, however, this move isn’t just about sport – it’s about building a life with his partner and embracing a new beginning. “I never imagined that living my truth would unlock doors from the pitch to every corner of my personal life,” he wrote. “Whether you’ve followed my journey from the beginning or found strength in it along the way, your presence has meant more than words can ever say.”
In the post, Cavallo extended deep gratitude to the LGBTQIA+ community and to fans worldwide who stood by him after he came out. “You helped me see that I wasn’t alone and that none of us are,” he said. “For the boy who once looked in the mirror and questioned why he was different, this is proof that you can find your place in this world.”
Fans and Club Shower Cavallo with Support
Adelaide United, Cavallo’s club since 2021, paid tribute to his legacy in a touching Instagram post: “Thank you, Josh, for everything – on the pitch and beyond. Your legacy will never be forgotten. Once a Red, always a Red.”
The club had long been a safe space for Cavallo, supporting his coming out and even playing a key role in his engagement to Morrell earlier this year. “Starting this year with my fiancé. Thank you @adelaideunited for helping set up this surprise,” Cavallo posted in January. “You have provided a safe space in football, one that I never in my dreams thought could ever be possible.”
A Legacy That Lasts Beyond the Game
Cavallo’s impact extends far beyond goals and tackles. His willingness to speak openly about his journey has helped normalize queerness in men’s sports—a space still fraught with homophobia, silence, and fear for many LGBTQ+ athletes.
His story has inspired a growing number of younger players and fans to live openly, and he’s become a vocal advocate for inclusion, mental health, and equity in sports. “Josh showed the world that you can be both gay and successful in the most competitive spaces,” said one LGBTQ+ fan in Sydney. “His story gave me courage I didn’t even know I needed.”
As Cavallo looks ahead to life in the UK – with wedding plans, new club opportunities, and fresh horizons – it’s clear he’s carrying that same courage with him into the next phase of his journey. “Goodbye, home,” he wrote in closing. “I never imagined I’d be here – and now, I can’t wait to see where this path leads next.”
