Socceroos goalkeeper Joe Gauci has secured a dream move to the English Premier League, joining high-flying Aston Villa from Adelaide United.
Villa have paid almost $A3 million to secure Gauci on a deal until 2028, with the goalkeeper to depart after the Socceroos finish their Asian Cup campaign.
It is the joint second highest fee paid for an Australian in A-League Men, after German giants Bayern Munich forked out $A5.5 million also to Adelaide United to lure Nestory Irankunda in November last year.
Gauci’s signing follows 2023 moves for Jordy Bos to Belgian club KVC Westerlo and Marco Tilio to Celtic, both from Melbourne City. Tilio has since rejoined City on loan.
Gauci’s departure comes only days after fellow Adelaide goalkeeper Steven Hall joined Brighton and Hove Albion’s academy.
The 23-year-old Gauci will be an understudy to Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, who won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper at the 2022 World Cup.
Unai Emery has Villa sitting fifth on the table.
Gauci’s move was confirmed less than 24 hours before the Socceroos’ bumper Asian Cup quarter-final against South Korea in Doha.
At national team level, Gauci looms as heir apparent to Mat Ryan, including deputising for the Socceroos captain in a pre-tournament friendly against Bahrain.
Joe Gauci. (Photo by Damian Briggs/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
He earned his first cap against Ecuador last year.
The 194cm shot-stopper has recorded 14 clean sheets in 71 games for Adelaide.
“If it (the move) does work out for him, he’s someone that’s obviously shown a lot of potential, and he’s a great kid,” Ryan told AAP before confirmation of the deal.
“He’s got a great attitude. He’s very professional. He’s very mature for his age and technical aspects as a goalkeeper. He’s got a lot of talent there.
“So obviously I’d wish him all the best, and if he’s wanting to seek some advice on all that, I’m there to be helpful in whatever way I can.”
Fellow Socceroo Harry Souttar was expected to stay at Leicester City, despite links to Sheffield United, Everton and Leeds.
The transfer window shuts at 11pm on Friday in England (10am Saturday AEDT).
Also making a move is former Central Coast Mariners star Nectarios Triantis, who joined Scottish Premiership outfit Hibs from Sunderland.
The young defender will join the Hibbies on loan until the end of the season, linking up with former Mariners boss Nick Montgomery.
The 20-year-old has made just three appearances this term for the seventh-placed Black Cats who are chasing promotion to the Premier League via the Championship playoffs.
Montgomery signed the Australia U23 international, who was a regular for him during the Mariners’ A-League title-winning season, along with another young central defender in Owen Bevan, who signed from Bournemouth.
Wales U21 international Bevan has played in the Premier League for the Cherries and spent time on loan with Cheltenham this season.
Hibs this week received approval from the Scottish Football Association to progress with an investment in the club from Bournemouth’s owners.
Socceroo Marco Tilio also sealed a loan move back to Melbourne City from Celtic as manager Brendan Rodgers trims his squad.
Tilio has struggled for game time at Celtic but looked sharp at Socceroos training and in recent cameos off the bench for Graham Arnold’s men at the Asian Cup.
He returns to City, where he scored 20 goals and made 19 assists in 86 appearances.
HIGHEST DEALS INVOLVING AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS:
1) Nestory Irankunda ($A5.5 million – Bayern Munich to Adelaide United, November 2023)
2) Joe Gauci ($2.9m – Aston Villa to Adelaide United, January 2024)
3) Marco Tilio ($A2.9m – Celtic to Melbourne City, June 2023)
4) Jordy Bos ($A2m – Westerlo to Melbourne City, May 2023)
5) Aaron Mooy ($A1.4m – Manchester City to Melbourne City, June 2017)
Chopper07
Roar Rookie
Henry Blackledge an 18 year old goalkeeper has just joined Luton Town (currently in the EPL) from Brisbane Roar. No idea if a fee is involved.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Bailey Brandtman is the latest youngster (18) coming out of Mariners academy starting to get A League minutes. He’s only been there a short while, recruited from Moreton Bay United in NPLQ. He’s been a junior State rep player over the years, no doubt Mariners will make some money and gain praise from the commentariat for their production line, but it’s the system that produces these guys, as they progress over many years. FQ is striving hard to improve their key role in the production line.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Ippy boy, good luck to him
Garry
Roar Rookie
"The last month of the summer, August, is another pleasant month in Almelo"
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
That would suggest it’s only six months(?)
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
The continued excellence of Eugene Galikovic. The guy was so unlucky with the national team goalkeeping pecking order, not playing for a “big club”, and so didn’t make many appearances for Australia.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Adelaide Andy has increased his taxable income again.
Waz
Roar Rookie
In the SAME day when did we have TWO Aussie keepers transferred to the EPL. Never. Until today.
Garry
Roar Rookie
" The 27-year-old midfielder comes over from Hellas Verona and signs a contract in Almelo until the summer of 2024." Hertacles club article as translated by someone
Grem
Roar Rookie
He looks good so far - he is playing the young ones, he has a habit of buying well priced, but outstanding imports and they are playing a better style of football.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
The bastion of truth that is Wikipedia has his move to Heracles as a permanent move.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Scotland is not physical its like League One and the A-league. Its not like Tilio and Arzani got a go. What about Miller the bloke is about as physical as you would get his initial coach didnt play and then after he does play he is rated as a top player at the club by the supporters. England is more physical the higher you go. Championship and then EPL. I find Bundesliga is even worse than the EPL because there is more compression of the lines, pressing and younger faster players , whereas Bundesliga its older and more skilful players beneath the EPL. Below the championship you would have Holland and then the Scadanavian leagues. The other league not to be understimated is Korea. Which players have failed in Scotland, Mclaren scored a few there got nothing in Bundesliga 2.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Yeah there is no doubt SFC produces a lot decent players. Hopefully Talay will play them going forward.
NickA
Roar Rookie
I'm sure I read it was a loan deal? At least I don't think it's a long deal - only until the end of the season.
Grem
Roar Rookie
What about Segecic – Europe, Pepuion – Europe, Teague – until recently – Europe, Joel King – Europe before he came back. Gersbash – was Europe, now USA, Pavlesic – Europe, Vatuli – Europe, Rawley St John – Europe. Sydney FC develop a lot of young talent and they actually come through their academy. Having Beamjehoan in a player management role with contacts in Europe is working well. They might sell them earlier and for less $, but the players are benefiting and hopefully our national teams will too. Or Sydney lets them go – Talbot, Burgess, Niewenhoff, Tilio, Blackwood, etc, but there are a lot. We also now have a coach who will play them. Girdwood Reich won’t last a lot longer here and Kurchaski may be something special.
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Confirmed with Hrustic - he's with Heracles Almelo, currently 15th and one place above relegation play off. Permanent deal as well, not a loan (though how long contract is for, not sure). Really hope he can have a good run injury-free as a fit and in form Hrustic is exactly the type of player we are missing at this Asian Cup. Since knocking in the pen against Peru he has had a wretched run with injuries and then latterly being banished from his club squad.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
2? try another 3 or 4 theres not better production line of goalkeepers than adelaide since the a league started
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
alot of relics in the names you've mentioned, scotland hasnt been exactly producing semi decent technical players for quite some time as for dukes - his height, body type, play style suited any league in the world - especially the physicallity of scotland and england
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i did say this was going to happen 2-3 months ago – adelaide have been exploring this deal since November its great to have a long time personal friend back, who also happens to be one of the a leagues best centre mids on his day back home
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
regardless of ‘catchment size’, the mariners do not develope their own ‘home grown talent’ – they sign other clubs players. they’ve taken over a dozen wanderers players in the past 2 years, not to mention the sheer amount they have had on trial from south australia this past season (almost double figures) absolutely praise the mariners for giving young kids a go, however when it comes to developing their ‘own’ players theyre equally as bad as 75% of this league the only teams that truly develope home grown players are adelaide, perth, brissy and wellington