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The transfer saga over former A-League player of the year Joel Griffiths has ended after Newcastle completed a deal to sell him to Chinese club Beijing Guoan on Tuesday.
Griffiths has returned to China, where he spent 10 months on loan last year, to take up a two-year deal following the long-running transfer dispute.
The striker had demanded a release from Newcastle, who he was due to re-join on January 1, but the Jets refused to budge unless they received an adequate transfer fee from the Chinese Super League club.
The matter went as far as an unresolved arbitration hearing with Football Federation Australia last week but the club says it has now accepted a “more appropriate” transfer fee, a reported $450,000.
The Jets released a statement on Tuesday, saying it was important for all A-League clubs they had stuck to their guns on the matter.
“We are glad that we maintained the position that we did with respect to this matter,” Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas said.
“We were quite happy for the matter to have been finalised via arbitration and were very comfortable in terms of the position we took.
“After the hearing was concluded, the player’s management contacted the club the following morning in an attempt to find a resolution that was suitable to Newcastle Jets.
“The subsequent offer made was more appropriate in our view.
“It was vitally important that we took the stance to ensure that foreign clubs show the A-League and its participating clubs the respect it deserves.
“We are glad that this matter is finally at an end.
“Newcastle was a very successful period for Joel in his career and we wish him every success at Beijing.”
Griffiths helped the Jets to the 2007-08 A-League championship, winning the golden boot award and Johnny Warren medal in the process.
The former Socceroos striker’s departure frees up a the club’s marquee player spot for next season but coach Branko Culina said the transfer would have little impact on the team’s prospects this season.
“To be honest, it (the saga) didn’t bother us as a team as much as the club because we never had him this year so we didn’t know what we were missing out on,” Culina said.
“But I’m glad that it’s over and the club and the player can move on.”
The Jets have impressed without Griffiths this year, with Michael Bridges, Labinot Haliti and Sean Rooney performing well up front to help the Jets to fourth spot with four rounds remaining.
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