It’s been a busy last month on the transfer front at City Football Academy, with plenty of new faces welcomed into our respective squads.
There have been new signings across both our Men’s and Women’s teams, while numerous Academy products have signed their first senior contracts – so read on below as we wrap up what has been a busy few weeks!
NEW SIGNINGS
June ended the same way July began – City signing some of the brightest talents across the A-League Women’s competition.
Young Matilda Alexia Apostalakis traded red and black for City blue, before Venezuelan striker Mariana Speckmaier became our first new international signing ahead of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League.
Malena Mieres followed last week as the Spanish goalkeeper looks set to take the number 1 spot, while Emilia Murray rounded out the new additions to the squad with the former Young Matildas skipper making the move from Adelaide.
Germán Ferreyra became our first new international signing in the Men’s squad, the Argentinian defender joining City from early in the pre-season and firming for a Club debut in the Australia Cup Round of 32.
RE-SIGNINGS
Much to the delight of City fans across Melbourne, Marco Tilio‘s return was confirmed after the Club reached an agreement with Celtic FC to extend his loan for 2024/25.
A trio of key players from our Premiership-winning A-League Women’s squad were locked in to return, as reigning Player of the Year Laura Hughes was joined by Karly Roestbakken and Bryleeh Henry in re-signing for two years.
It was also announced that Harry Politidis will remain at the Club for season 2024/25, the 22-year-old defender reaching a contract trigger last season to extend for a further year.
ACADEMY GRADUATES
All involved with City’s Academy would’ve been proud across the last fortnight, with four young guns signing their first senior deals and transitioning to the first-team squad.
It was a big month for Medin Memeti, signing on for three years and getting on the scoresheet for the Young Socceroos at the ASEAN U19 Championship.
Harry Shillington – who made his senior debut alongside Memeti in last year’s Australia Cup – was next, signing on for the coming season.
Lawrence Wong and Peter Antoniou rounded out a busy few weeks, becoming the second and third players to complete the Club’s full Player Development Pathway when they signed on for three years each.
Side-by-side throughout their whole City journey, Wong and Antoniou both started in City Football Schools programs, worked their way through the Academy, and have now signed first-team contracts.
A few more exciting announcements are still to come, so stay tuned over the coming weeks!
