Melbourne Heart have signed attacker Golgol Mebrahtu and defender Steven Gray for the Hyundai A-League 2012/13 season.
Melbourne Heart have signed attacker Golgol Mebrahtu and defender Steven Gray for the Hyundai A-League 2012/13 season.
Mebrahtu, 21, and Gray, 30, have each signed two-year and one-year deals respectively to join John Aloisi-s side, further bolstering the squad as they follow Liberian international Patrick Gerhardt and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne as Heart-s most recent recruits.
Aloisi said he is excited by the acquisition of the duo, emphasising Heart-s commitment to recruiting players suited to playing the Club-s preferred style of football.
“Both Steven and Golgol will bring a lot to our Club,” Aloisi said.
“I watched Steven up and close in Hawaii, where he played with our youth team in a tournament against some excellent opposition, and he played really well. He-s a leader by nature and likes to coach on the pitch, which is really important to the the development of our young players and will be valuable to our squad mix this season.
“Golgol meanwhile is an exciting talent. We saw how he played up on the Gold Coast; he is great one v one and is lightning quick. We want fast mobile players up front, and he suits the way we want to play football. We can help him develop as a player, and I hope he will bring a lot to the team.”
Capable of playing as a winger or central striker, Mebrahtu joins Heart following three years with Gold Coast United, where the Sudan-born youngster made 26 appearances in the Hyundai A-League.
Having earned recognition at youth international level, Mebrahtu-s pace and skill makes him an exciting prospect, with Aloisi hopeful of helping him join the growing of talented young players Heart has helped develop.
One of the leading players in the Victorian Premier League over the past two seasons, Gray arrives at Heart following an impressive, extended stint on trial, which saw the towering left-sided defender feature against K-League giants Busan I-Park and 2010 MLS Champions Colorado Rapids at the Hawaiian Islands Invitational earlier this year.
A product of Southampton-s feted youth system, Gray enjoyed a successful career in Ireland, featuring in the UEFA Champions League after winning a league title with Drogheda United in 2007 before relocating to Australia, and promises to add poise and experience to the Heart rearguard.
