The results are IN – at the end of the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season, we have a winner on the eToro Transfer Power Rankings.
The eToro Transfer Power Rankings ranked all of this season’s new signings based off their Opta Index score for the season; the rankings shifted from month to month but after the conclusion of the regular season, we can now crown the best signing of the 2023-24 campaign.
Read on for the top 10 signings in the eToro Transfer Power Rankings at the end of the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Get your tickets to this weekend’s Semi-Finals!
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Final eToro Transfer Power Rankings
10. Bernardo Oliveira (Macarthur FC)
- Ranking last month: 9th (dropped one place)
- Opta index: 70.0
- Transfer: Adelaide United -> Macarthur FC
Bernardo Oliveira shot into the top 10 on the eToro Transfer Rankings in March after a mini goals blitz before a season-ending Achilles injury.
But the Macarthur youngster, who signed for the club from Adelaide United in mid-season, remained in the top 10 at the end of the campaign with an Opta index figure of 70.0.
Bernardo made 16 appearances this season across both Adelaide and Macarthur, making five starts and scoring five goals in just 541 minutes of game time.
9. Josh Brillante (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Ranking last month: 5th (dropped four places)
- Opta index: 70.8
- Transfer: Melbourne Victory -> Western Sydney Wanderers
Josh Brillante was an early frontrunner on the eToro Transfer Power Rankings, taking the lead after November but has since fluctuated up and down the top 10.
The Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder ends the campaign in ninth spot after 18 appearances for the club in his first season in red and black.
8. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 72.5
- Transfer: PAS Giannina -> Newcastle Jets
Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was a revelation for Newcastle Jets this season.
In four prior Isuzu UTE A-League seasons, the striker had scored just seven goals – a maximum of three in a single campaign. He ended the 2023-24 season at the Jets with 17 goals to his name through 25 appearances, and claimed a well-earned place among the top 10 signings of the season.
7. Ryan Scott (Newcastle Jets)
- Ranking last month: 6th (dropped one place)
- Opta index: 73.4
- Transfer: Western United -> Newcastle Jets
Another Newcastle Jets signing, Ryan Scott joined the club from Western United in the off-season and proceeded to have a major impact at his new club.
Scott made 122 saves and kept five clean sheets and was a consistent performer in a team that finished 10th on the table.
6. Daniel Penha (Western United)
- Ranking last month: 3rd (dropped three places)
- Opta index: 73.5
- Transfer: Atletico Mineiro -> Western United (loan)
Daniel Penha drops from third to sixth on the eToro Transfer Power Rankings at the end of the season, having failed to sustain a purple patch of form through February and March in which he produced four goals in five games.
Penha played just once for Western United in April but he suffered a knock in that game against Macarthur and didn’t feature in any of Western’s remaining games.
The Brazilian was the first player announced as an A-Leagues All Star, and is set to take on Newcastle United at Marvel Stadium on May 24.
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5. Daniel Arzani (Melbourne Victory)
- Ranking last month: 10th (climbed five places)
- Opta index: 73.8
- Transfer: Macarthur FC -> Melbourne Victory
Daniel Arzani shot from 10th to fifth on the eToro Transfer Power Rankings after a bright end to the regular season, with two goals scored in a Round 26 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers helping the Socceroo’s Opta index score rise to 73.8 at the conclusion of the campaign.
Arzani and Victory progressed to the Semi-Finals after a knockout win over Melbourne City and take on Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon; get your tickets today!
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4. Jamie Young (Melbourne City)
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 75.0
- Transfer: Western United -> Melbourne City
Jamie Young rocketed into contention for signing of the season with a strong end to his first campaign at Melbourne City. Having replaced Tom Glover as City’s No.1 before the 2023-24 campaign began, Young kept five clean sheets in his last eight appearances of the regular season to help his side secure sixth spot and a place in the Finals.
An Opta index score of 76.2 through April boosted his average Opta index score for the season up to 75 – the fourth-best of any new signing around the league.
3. Lachlan Brook (Western Sydney Wanderers)
- Ranking last month: 4th (climbed one place)
- Opta index: 75.6
- Transfer: Brentford -> Western Sydney Wanderers
With nine goals and two assists, Olyroos forward Lachlan Brook made the most of his comeback season in the Isuzu UTE A-League at Western Sydney Wanderers.
The former Adelaide United prospect departed home for English club Brentford but returned to Australia on a two-season deal. Six of his nine goals came in the form of braces scored in three games this season; Brook scored two goals in his last four appearances and could have added to both his nine-goal tally and 75.6 Opta index score without a three-week absence on Olyroos duty at the U23 Asian Cup in March.
2. Mikael Doka (Central Coast Mariners)
- Ranking last month: 7th (climbed six places)
- Opta index: 80.2
- Transfer: Santos -> Central Coast Mariners
From seventh to second in a matter of weeks, Central Coast Mariners wide man Mikael Doka did his best to close the gap on on the long-standing leader of the eToro Transfer Power Rankings.
Doka’s back-half of the season was superb. The Brazilian forced his way into the starting XI in Round 18 and hasn’t relinquished the spot since, helping the Mariners win nine of 10 games to end the season as Premiers, scoring two goals along that stretch.
Doka’s Opta index figure for the season rose from 73.4 to 80.2 in just four weeks to surge into second on the leaderboard – but the impressive Opta index number didn’t come close to that of the Melbourne City star who takes out signing of the season honours…
Buy tickets to Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
1. Tolgay Arslan (Melbourne City)
- Ranking last month: 1st
- Opta index: 88.5
- Transfer: Udinese -> Melbourne City
On top from December to the end of the season, Melbourne City midfielder Tolgay Arslan takes out signing of the season honours with an Opta index score of 88.5 recorded at the end of the campaign.
Arslan scored 13 goals and notched eight assists in his first season Down Under, after signing for City from Udinese in Italy’s top flight. The creative midfielder hasn’t relinquished top spot on the eToro Transfer Power Rankings since he claimed it in the final month of 2024.
Arslan’s final game of the season came in the finals as City fell to an agonising penalty shootout defeat to Melbourne Victory.
Get your tickets to this weekend’s Semi-Finals!
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Who dropped out of the top 10 from the end of March? Terry Antonis
Who broke into the top 10 after April/May? Jamie Young, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
eToro Transfer Power Rankings – Top 10 (April/May alone – Opta Index): Tolgay Arslan (87.6, Matthew Grimaldi (78.7), Leo Natel (73.3), Daniel Arzani (72.7), Apostolos Stamatelopoulos (72.4), Michael Ruhs (71.9), Lachlan Brook (71.3), Riku Danzaki (69.7), Ariath Piol (69.5), Fabio Gomes (69.0)
