Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan has sealed his dream move to La Liga, locking in a six-year deal with Valencia from Club Brugge.
The 23-year-old former Central Coast gloveman has passed his medical with the glamour Spanish side, which finished fourth in the country’s top tier last season and will play in the qualifying stages of this year’s Champions League.
It means he will be charged with stopping living football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on a regular basis, especially given first-choice gloveman and Brazilian international Diego Alves is sidelined until next year with a knee injury.
Club Brugge, where Ryan spent a successful two seasons during which he was twice voted as Belgian’s best goalkeeper, has agreed on an undisclosed fee with Valencia believed to be worth STG5 million ($A10.56 million).
Ryan underwent his first training session with his new teammates and Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo at Mestalla Stadium on Tuesday, before revealing just how bold his European ambitions are.
“We want to eventually win La Liga and win the Champions League, and I’ll be doing my best to help the team achieve this,” he told Valencia’s website.
“I’d like to say I’m very athletic, quick along the ground. You know, I like to be a sweeper keeper with the ball at my feet.
“So hopefully me coming here, and hopefully doing well and winning many things for Valencia, can open the door for a lot of other Australians to come over to Spain.”
Since leaving the Mariners in 2013 Ryan’s career has been on a firm upward trajectory, his sublime form catching the eye of numerous European clubs including Liverpool.
With 21 caps for Australia, the Sydney-born stopper also cemented himself as Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou’s No.1 pick between the posts.
Valencia chairwoman Chan Lay Hoon tipped Ryan to have a “major impact”.
“It has not been an easy task looking for a Champions League-level goalkeeper,” she said.
“Mathew may be young, but he is ambitious and a player with huge potential.”
Former Mariners mentor Graham Arnold said he was certain the prodigious talent had made the right move, adding he is perfectly suited to the Spanish game.
The Sydney FC coach said Ryan’s natural leadership and ability to distribute the ball from the back would make him a success at his new club.
“I think it’s a very smart move, going to Spain rather than England,” Arnold said.
“It suits him much better, his style as a goalkeeper – it’s a fantastic move for him.”
Ryan’s move will also be music to the ears of Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth, with the A-League club pocketing 15 per cent of the total transfer fee due to a contractual `sell-on’ clause.
Wicked Ninja
Guest
Apparently WSW have the rights to players who turned pro before they were formed. You might as well demand compensation from Leeds United because they sold Harry Kewell to Liverpool. WSW is not a representative team (what about Ono, La Rocca, Poljak, etc.?). Young players from Western Sydney can sign for whoever they like. I'd hate to live in your fantasy world where our young kids only play for WSW, because that would actually restrict opportunities for them.
Josh 2
Guest
I see where your coming from but the Mariners don't have a big enough talent pool in Gosford so they need to be on the lookout elsewhere. And when Mat Ryan debuted for the Mariners Western Sydney weren't even a club yet.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Another Aussie has been signed by a LaLiga club whose home is in Valencia. "Illawarra teenager Isaac Danzo recently signed a four-year deal with Valencia-based La Liga outfit Levante UD, having impressed the club during a three-day trial. The 15 year-old trained under highly-regarded coach Jane Talevski with Football NSW's elite junior program Project 22, which aimed to identify future Australia players that could be within the Socceroos system by the 2022 World Cup." Full story: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/07/25/technically-gifted-australian-looking-make-splash-valencia
Ian
Guest
because every player at WSW was born and bred in Western Sydney
Josh
Guest
Not bizarre at all, not even close. I'm not a fan of CCM constantly hanging around Western Sydney looking for the next player to claim as their own.
Steve
Guest
You really should. Highest quality football in the world with the best players. Valencia, in particular, are a great side to watch. Their matches against Barcelona, Real, Atletico, Sevilla, Villareal (!), Athletic are for me must watch games on the football calendar.
Batou
Guest
That is a bizarre post, even by Josh's standards!
Waz
Guest
Alva is out injured for six months isn't he?
Waz
Guest
That's excellent news - someone posted it was a 20% cut yesterday making it $2m but either way it's good news.
Gareth
Guest
What?
Franko
Guest
By my calculations the Mariners pocket AU$1.58M from this. Very tidy.
Ian
Guest
Good call AZ. I don't either but if Valencia pops up at a good time I'll have a look at Ryan on a massive stage.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Usually don't go out of my way to watch La Liga on fox all that often but that might change now with Valencia games.
Josh
Guest
Mike Charlsworth is taking money that doesn't belong to CCM, it belongs to Western Sydney where CCM find most of their players. Hopefully with the WSW Academy opening in the near future this door will be slammed shut on the Mariners.
Tom Cahill
Guest
This is a huge move, hopefully he can impress enough to keep Alves out