Socceroos captain Lucas Neill will return to the A-League with Sydney FC, after the Sky Blues tabled a last-ditch bid to lure the defender away from Melbourne Heart.
Neill, who met with Heart officials Scott Munn and John Didulica on Friday, will join the Sydney club immediately and could be in line to make his debut against Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park next Sunday.
It had been widely tipped that Neill would join John Aloisi’s side after the retirement of Vince Grella had freed up salary cap space.
Should he play next weekend, he is certain to receive a hostile reception from the red half of Melbourne.
Neill, who has played for Blackburn, West Ham, Everton and Galatasaray, had been without a club since being released by Al Wasl last month.
His signature will give a considerable boost to a Sydney FC outfit looking to build momentum as the A-League finals loom.
Alongside Alessandro Del Piero and Brett Emerton, Neill’s star power will help assist the Sky Blues as they struggle to maintain support following an inconsistent season combined with the success of crosstown rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.