Socceroos World Cup squad member Joel King has returned to his former club Sydney FC on loan from Danish club Odense BK until the end of the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
And the left-back, who won the A-League Men Premiership/Championship double under Steve Corica in 2019/20, says securing more silverware for the club is the main objective of his loan move, with “everything to play for” between now and the end of the campaign.
King, 22, departed Sydney FC in January, 2022 with Odense BK triggering a clause in his contract to instigate the overseas move.
The 2020-21 Isuzu UTE A-League Young Player of the Year won two Championships and one Premiership in his first stint in Sky Blue, making his Socceroos debut against Vietnam in the days prior to his transfer to the Danish Superliga.
King, who was a key member of Australia’s Olyroos squad at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, was selected in Socceroos head coach Graham Arnold’s 26-man squad which made it to the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar.
He returns to a Sydney side currently sat just one point outside the top six on the A-League Men table. The full-back says there’s no reason why his side can’t be competing for trophies by the season’s end.
“I’m excited to get back to Sydney FC and to play at the new Allianz Stadium which I’m yet to experience,” King said.
“It will be easy to slot back into the great culture at the club and I’m looking forward to fighting for my place in the starting line-up.
“It’s an extremely tight league this year and will be a very exciting second half to the season.
“Everything is still to play for and I’d love to win another Premiership and a third Championship medal.”
King will compete with Spanish defender Diego Caballo for a spot on the left side of Corica’s defence throughout the remainder of the 2022-23 A-League Men season.
Corica, who gave King his professional debut in 2019, says he’s delighted to be “bringing him home” for the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.
“Joel was part of the most successful Socceroos World Cup squad in history and has had more experience since he went overseas, so it’s an excellent signing for us,” Corica said.
“He is a great addition and will provide more defensive cover at the business end of our season. I’m very happy to be bringing him home.”
