Marco Tilio will return to Melbourne City for the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season after the extension of the Socceroo’s loan agreement with Scottish champions Celtic.
Tilio re-joins City for the entirety of next season, having initially made his way back to Melbourne from Celtic on loan in January after leaving AAMI Park for what was an Australian record transfer fee at the end of 2022-23.
The 22-year-old forward was hampered by injuries in his City comeback, scoring once in four A-Leagues appearances last season. Though his one and only goal away to Sydney FC showcased his quality.
“I’m so happy that I can extend my stay at City, this club has always felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to get back on the pitch and contribute to the team,” said Tilio.
“Last season was a difficult one for me with injury, but I’ve been working hard to come back stronger and I’m looking forward to making more memorable moments together with my teammates and the City fans.”
Tilio initially caught the eye of Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers having contributed 20 goals and 19 assists in 86 appearances, helping City win one Championship as well as three Premierships.
But Tilio struggled for game time until Rodgers at Celtic, where the Aussie received just 27 minutes of league action in 2023-24.
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“Marco is a fantastic player with immense talent. His return is a huge positive for us as we prepare for the upcoming campaign,” said head coach Aurelio Vidmar.
“We’re confident that he will make a significant impact on the field and help us achieve our goals. We look forward to seeing him in action during pre-season.”
Tilio’s loan renewal comes after the arrival of Kai Trewin from Brisbane Roar.
City’s director of football Michael Petrillo added: “We’re thrilled to have Marco re-join the team for the upcoming season.
“We all know exactly what he’s capable of, and we strongly believe his technical skill, electrifying pace and attacking threat will be invaluable this season.
“Unfortunately, he suffered a frustrating season with injury in 2023-24, but we’re happy to secure the loan and we’re confident we’ll see the very best of Marco throughout the 2024-25 season.”
