With the new Hyundai A-League season only four weeks away, let’s take a look at five key signings that have the potential to make a big impact at your club.
5. Aaron Mooy (St Mirren to Western Sydney Wanderers)
Young Australian attacking midfielder Aaron Mooy has joined new A-League franchise Western Sydney Wanderers after spending six years in Europe.
Signing on until the end of the 2013/14 season, Mooy, 21, hails from the area and played all of his junior football in western Sydney.
Mooy’s clean distribution and eye for goal will no doubt prove to be vital asset across the Wanderers’ midfield.
Mooy joined Bolton Wanderers in 2006 before moving to St Mirren in September 2010, making 21 appearances for the Scottish Premier League club.
He has represented the Olyroos three times and the Young Socceroos on 10 occasions, including at the 2009 FIFA under-20 World Cup in Egypt, scoring six goals for the Australian youth teams.
“I’m delighted to be coming home and joining West Sydney Wanderers,” he said.
“I’ve had a great experience overseas, but the opportunity to be a foundation member of a club in my home area is a unique one and is something I felt I couldn’t pass up.”
Having regular first-team football will only help this talented youngster.
Mooy is bright prospect and one worth keeping a close eye on.
4. Adam Griffiths (Hangzhou, Chinese Super League, to Sydney FC)
Adam Griffiths is one of the more important signings for the revamped Sky Blues squad.
Inconsistency has been an ongoing issue for Sydney FC. For a team that built their 2010 championship on defence, the Sky Blues were exposed far too many times last season and this is where Griffiths comes in.
Comfortable playing anywhere in defence and even in the midfield, Griffiths will likely be deployed as a central defender.
Griffith joins the Sky Blues after spending two years in China where he played with Hangzhou in the Chinese Super League (CSL), before being released at the end of last season.
“I’m really happy to be joining Sydney FC, it’s like coming home for me,” Griffiths said. “I grew up in the Sutherland Shire, I played all my early football in Sydney and to be playing for Sydney FC is fantastic.”
Griffiths brings a wealth of experience to the Sky Blues and it’s this experience that coach Ian Crook will be relying upon to help Sydney challenge for the title.
3. Richard Garcia (Hull City to Melbourne Heart)
Melbourne Heart pulled off a big coup on the eve of the A-League season by securing the signature of Socceroos midfielder Richard Garcia on a one-year deal.
Garcia, 30, a former English Premier League player with West Ham and Hull City, will join the new-look Heart under head coach John Aloisi for the 2012/13 season.
What’s impressive about Garcia is his ability to play a number of roles. For the national team, he played across the front-line, and in England he spent a considerable amount of time in the midfield. This is where I expect him to spend much of his time.
The experience he possesses isn’t something many A-League clubs have encountered too often.
Not surprisingly, Aloisi is thrilled with Garcia’s signing and is convinced his experience and ability will be a vital asset that will undoubtedly help the club in their upcoming campaign.
“Having been a professional in England for 10 years at a high level, and as a World Cup veteran, he will assume a leadership role on the pitch and will be an important guide for our younger players,” he said.
Garcia has 14 international caps and was part of the Socceroos squad at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
2. Marcos Flores (Henan Jianye, China, to Melbourne Victory)
Shattered at losing superstars Harry Kewell and Carlos Hernandez, the pain of Melbourne Victory fans was somewhat eased with the news that they has signed former Adelaide United fan favourite Marcos Flores.
The Argentinian won the Johnny Warren Medal as the A-League’s best player in 2010-11, which was his only previous season in Australia. He has since played with Chinese club Henan Jianye, who much to the joy of his Aussie fans released him last month.
Flores, who very quickly became a fan favourite in Adelaide with his silky skills, is looking forward to the next challenge in his career.
“I’m very happy to be joining Melbourne Victory, as they are one of the most successful teams in the A-League,” he said.
The two-year contract worth $400,000 a season will no doubt leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Adelaide fans. No doubt emotions will be running high when these fierce rivals meet in Round 3.
1. Alessandro Del Piero (retired from Juventus to Sydney FC)
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