Sydney FC have promoted Academy goalkeeper Alexander Zaverdinos to their A-League squad on a one-year contract for the 2026/27 season.
The 19-year-old has been part of the Sky Blues’ Academy since the Under 13s and will now join the first-team squad on a full-time basis having featured in NPL First Grade over the past two seasons.
Zaverdinos was also part of Sydney FC’s Academy side which reached the final of a prestigious international tournament in Germany in 2024, facing leading European academies including Borussia Mönchengladbach and Everton.
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Sydney FC head coach Patrick Kisnorbo believes the young goalkeeper has earned his opportunity at A-League level.
“Alexander is an athletic, aggressive and agile goalkeeper who communicates very well and has shown a really good level of consistency,” Kisnorbo said.
“He’s worked extremely hard for this opportunity and deserves his shot.
“He’s still a young goalkeeper with plenty of development ahead of him, but he has earned the chance to step into the A-League squad and compete with Harrison and Gus.
“That competition will be good for all three of them and Alexander will be tested over the next few weeks, which will be another important step in his development.”
For Zaverdinos, the contract represents the latest step in a journey which began at Sydney FC more than six years ago.
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“I’ve been here since Under 13s and I’ve loved my time at Sydney FC, so I’m really excited to take the next step and be part of the first team full-time,” he said.
“There’s healthy competition between the goalkeepers. We’re close off the field, but once we’re training everyone wants to push each other and improve.
“It’s a great feeling to officially be part of the first team, but nothing changes for me. I need to keep working just as hard, if not harder.”
Beaten in Wednesday night’s 2026 Australia Cup semi-final by Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC now turn their attention to the blockbuster season opener against fierce rivals Western Sydney Wanderers at Allianz Stadium on Friday, October 16.
