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Who is the best Hyundai A-League signing of July?

With most Hyundai A-League team’s rosters for 2019/20 starting to take shape, July was a month to add those crucial extra pieces to take your club to the next level.

The number of signings certainly was not as high as June, but the importance of the names added in July could be just as significant.

We review the biggest and best of those July signings, and try to decide which ones will tip their team towards their ultimate goals in 2019/20.

IMPORTS: Every foreign Hyundai A-League player for 2019/20 Season

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Andrew Nabbout (Melbourne Victory)

When Nabbout left the Hyundai A-League a little over a year ago, he departed as one of the best attackers in the competition.

Now, after 16 months playing in the demanding J-League competition, the 26-year-old says he’s returning to Australia a’more complete forward’.

And that’s exactly what coach Marco Kurz will be hoping for from the man who was part of the Caltex Socceroos squad at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Alessandro Diamanti (Western United FC)

The competition’s new boys have vowed to make an instant impact in their maiden season in the competition and the signing of the Italian star certainly catches the eye.

Looking for a classy playmaker to complement his strong squad, coach Mark Rudan will be wrapped with a player of Diamanti’s vast experience in both the Serie A and Premier League.

The 36-year-old, who played 17 times for Italy, is blessed with a lethal left foot and will be a dangerous prospect from set-pieces for United.

Robbie Kruse (Melbourne Victory)

With Kosta Barbarouses swapping Victory for Sydney FC, the four-time Hyundai A-League champions needed a big recruit to fill his boots.

The acquisition of the 75-cap Caltex Socceroos certainly does just that, with Kruse inking a two-year deal with the club that sparked his career.

Kruse scored 16 league goals in 39 matches in his first stint with the Big V and if he can contribute a similar strike-rate in the upcoming campaign, rival sides better watch out.

Adrian Luna (Melbourne City)

Recruiting talented attacking players from South America is never an easy task but City looks to have a real gem in the pint-sized Uruguayan.

Luna who is still just 27, has played almost 300 senior matches across Uruguay, Spain and Mexico in his career and joins a formidable-looking City forward line.

With 38 goals and 36 assists to his name, Luna is both a scorer and creator and his versatility makes him an exciting prospect for coach Erick Mombaerts.

Riley McGree (Adelaide United)

The Reds have taken their time with their recruitment under new coach Gertjan Verbeek, with their patience certainly paying off with the addition of McGree.

A South Australian product, McGree had spent the last two seasons on loan at Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City from his parent-club in Belgium, Club Brugge.

But so keen to sign the 20-year-old midfielder, the Reds paid a transfer fee to Brugge to nab McGree back on a three-year deal they believe will be a shrewd investment.

Ulises Davila (Wellington Phoenix)

You only had to listen to the excitement in coach Ufuk Talay’s voice on Davila’s arrival in Wellington to know the Mexican is a special talent.

Having once signed a five-year deal with Premier League giants Chelsea, Davila has immense pedigree, but also huge expectation to perform for the Phoenix.

With the likes of Roy Krishna, David Williams and Sarpreet Singh no longer at the club, Davila will need to settle quickly across the ditch if Phoenix are to play finals football again.

Alexander Baumjohann (Sydney FC)

Not content with snatching Kosta Barbarouses away from Big Blue rivals Melbourne Victory, the Sky Blues went one step further and signed a player from fierce neighbours Western Sydney Wanderers.

Former Bayern Munich playmaker Baumjohann showed glimpses of his star quality with the Wanderers last season, including a goal in the Derby against the Sky Blues.

While he wasn’t able to convince Markus Babbel he was worth another shot with Western Sydney, you can be sure the 32-year-old will have a point to prove, which is great news for the defending Hyundai A-League champions.

Abdiel Arroyo (Newcastle Jets)

The Jets’ disappointing 2018/19 Season got even worse for the club and its fans when leading scorer Roy O’Donovan opted to head north to Brisbane Roar.

Ernie Merrick needed someone to lead his exciting batch of young attackers and hit the jackpot with the signing of the Panamanian international, who played at last year’s FIFA World Cup.

Arroyo is a regular for Panama – having made 47 international appearances – while also featuring in Uruguay’s Primera División and Costa Rica’s Liga Deportiva Alajuelense. Can he improve on O’Donovan’s impressive goal return?

Kristian Opseth (Adelaide United) 

It’s been their problem position ever since Bruce Djite departed the club after they won the title in 2015/16.

So it’s fitting that Djite – Adelaide United’s Football Director – could be the man that has finally helped deliver the ‘No. 9’ who could fire the Reds back to the top of the Hyundai A-League.

If Norwegian striker Opseth can deliver the type of goals he has scored throughout his career in Europe, he’ll write himself into Reds folklore this season.

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