Vidosic leaves Wanderers for China

Dario Vidosic has officially left A-League club Western Sydney, signing instead with Chinese Super League side Liaoning Whowin.

The Wanderers confirmed the expected departure of their Australian marquee one year into his two-year contract.

Vidosic will link up with fellow fringe Socceroo James Troisi and former Australia defender Michael Thwaite at Liaoning, currently 10th on the Super League table.

It will be the 29-year-old attackers’s third club in as many years following stints at the Wanderers and Swiss outfit FC Sion.

He joins an ever-increasing Australian cohort on lucrative contracts in China, where Socceroos including Tim Cahill, Apostolos Giannou, Matt Spiranovic, Ryan McGowan and Trent Sainsbury are also based.

Vidosic’s exit is the latest by a string of Wanderers players. Also gone is fan favourite and all-time leading goal-scorer Mark Bridge to the Thai Premier League, while Dutch flyer Romeo Castelen was released at the end of his contract.

Failed Italian striker Federico Piovaccari was also released after being dropped from coach Tony Popovic’s squad entirely after just 12 rounds.

It leaves the club with a rebuild on its hands and two free marquee spots for the 2016/17 season.

Vidosic made 28 A-League appearances last season, including netting the extra-time winner in the Wanderers’ historic 5-4 semi-final comeback win over Brisbane.

“Dario’s winner in the semi-final will remain an iconic image in the history of the Western Sydney Wanderers,” Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said.

“Everyone at the club wishes him well for his move to China.”