Who is the Isuzu UTE A-League signing of the season?
That is the question set to be answered via aleagues.com.au’s eToro Transfer Power Rankings, in 2023-24, ranking the best performers of all the off-season signings every month.
Each player’s place in the eToro Transfer Power Rankings is based off their Opta Index score for the season – and the rankings will shift month to month based on performance until we can crown the signing of the season.
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What is the Opta Index?
Opta defines it as follows: The Player Index is based on totals in a variety of statistics for each player. The index score uses subcomponents (such as shooting, passing, defending), corresponding to different qualitative aspects of a player’s performance.
These component scores are combined to create an overall rating for each player. The formula that works out the overall match rating have been developed by Opta’s own team of data scientists in conjunction with our award-winning Data Editorial team.
Read on for the top 10 signings in the eToro Transfer Power Rankings after ten rounds of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
OCT/NOV RANKINGS: Surprise leader in race to be crowned signing of the season
Who dropped out of October/November’s Top 10? Jack Clisby (6), Aleksandar Šušnjar (7), Steven Ugarkovic (9), Jing Reec (10)
eToro Transfer Power Rankings – Top 10 (December value): Tolgay Arslan (83.5), Angel Torres (81.9), Leo Natel (74.4), Valere Germain (73.1), Jamie Young (72.3), Aziz Behich (70.9), Marcus Antonsson (68.6), Marin Jakolis (67.7), Justin Vidic (67.5), Alessandro Lopane (67.0)
eToro Transfer Power Rankings – Top 10 (Overall)
10. Lachlan Brook
- Ranking last month: 3 (dropped seven places)
- Opta index: 67.1
- Transfer: Brentford -> Western Sydney Wanderers
Lachlan Brook’s form has tapered off a little since his blistering start to life at Wanderland.
The Wanderers winger started their first two games of December against Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, before being substituted at half-time of the latter.
He then made two substitute appearances in the win over Adelaide United and loss to Wellington Phoenix, rounding out a quiet month.
9. Jorrit Hendrix
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 67.7
- Transfer: Fortuna Dusseldorf -> Western Sydney Wanderers
The Dutchman put together a sensational month, which sees him rise into the top 10 for the first time this season.
Hendrix starred in the middle of the park throughout December, and even slotted in it at centre-back on two occasions when Marcelo and Tom Beadling both suffered injuries mid-game.
He also helped himself to an assist in their 4-3 loss to Melbourne Victory.
8. Ryan Tunnicliffe
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 68.0
- Transfer: Portsmouth -> Adelaide United
Ryan Tunnicliffe leaps into the top 10 after solidifying himself in the middle of the park towards the back end of December.
The Englishman and former Manchester United youngster started the month on the outside looking into the Adelaide United line-up, before being handed his first start in their 1-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers, playing every minute for the remainder of the month since.
7. Valentino Yuel
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 68.4
- Transfer: Aluminium Arak -> Western Sydney Wanderers
It’s only taken four appearances for Valentino Yuel to shoot up the eToro Power Rankings.
Yuel signed for Western Sydney Wanderers at the start of December and has since made an immediate impact, scoring and getting an assist in his debut against Melbourne Victory, before a promising display in the win over Adelaide United.
After returning to the bench following their loss to Wellington Phoenix, Yuel responded by scoring in his second-half cameo in the Wanderers’ 3-1 win over Macarthur on New Year’s Day.
6. Angel Torres
- Ranking last month: N/A
- Opta index: 69.2
- Transfer: Balzan -> Central Coast Mariners
There haven’t been many better players throughout the month of December than Angel Torres.
The Central Coast Mariners attacker scored six goals – including a hat-trick against Melbourne City, and brace v Brisbane Roar – to go with two assists during an incredible run in December. His Opta Index score for December alone is 81.9, which takes his overall score to 69.2, following a slow start to life in Gosford.
Only Joe Lolley (91.5), Bruno Fornaroli (91.0), Tolgay Arslan (83.5) and Alex Paulsen (82.4) scored higher than Torres this month.
It seems like only a matter of time before Torres’ ranking is higher than the sixth place he currently sits in, especially if he can continue this incredible form.
5. Florin Berenguer
- Ranking last month: 4 (dropped one place)
- Opta index: 69.9
- Transfer: Melbourne City -> Brisbane Roar
It was a difficult month for Florin Berenguer, who battled injury throughout December, but remains inside the top five.
Berenguer hurt his quad in Brisbane Roar’s 2-1 win over Perth Glory in late November, that ruled him out for four straight matches. The Frenchman made his return off the bench in Brisbane Roar’s 8-1 loss to Melbourne City last Thursday night.
4. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos
- Ranking last month: 2 (dropped two places)
- Opta index: 72.6
- Transfer: PAS Giannina -> Newcastle Jets
Apostolos Stamtelopoulos continued his fine start to life in his second stint at Newcastle throughout December.
The Jets attacker scored three goals to begin the month, taking his tally to seven goals for the season, including a brace in Newcastle’s upset 3-0 win over Wellington Phoenix. He did, however, end the month on a sour note after being sent off in the Jets’ win over Western United on December 30.
3. Josh Brillante
- Ranking last month: 1 (dropped two places)
- Opta index: 74.4
- Transfer: Melbourne Victory -> Western Sydney Wanderers
Josh Brillante loses his spot atop the eToro Power Rankings after a dip in form throughout December.
Brillante started each of Western Sydney’s opening three matches of the month, but was sent off in their win over Adelaide United for a strong challenge on Ryan Tunnicliffe. It’s meant the veteran midfielder has missed their last two matches through suspension, and as a result, dropped from first to third in the rankings.
2. Aziz Behich
- Ranking last month: 5 (rose three places)
- Opta index: 74.7
- Transfer: Dundee United -> Melbourne City
It’s no surprise that Aziz Behich’s purple patch has coincided with Melbourne City’s hot run of form.
The City star helped his side continue their seven game unbeaten run in all competitions, with a string of quality of performances throughout December. Behich tallied two assists and helped keep two clean sheets, including an impressive performance in the Melbourne Derby.
His absence will be felt in the next month as he jets off to Qatar to take part in the Socceroos’ upcoming AFC Asian Cup campaign.
1. Tolgay Arslan
- Ranking last month: 8 (rose seven places)
- Opta index: 82.0
- Transfer: Udinese -> Melbourne City
Tolgay Arslan has well and truly arrived in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
The Melbourne City midfielder strung together a quality body of work throughout December, scoring three goals in the league and tallying three assists. Arslan struggled early in his City tenure with a niggling toe injury, but there has been no stopping him since he’s overcome said injury.
At times, it has seemed as if Arslan was at a different level to his opponents, particularly in City’s 8-1 win over Brisbane Roar where he quite literally had the ball on a string en route to a goal and two assists.
His coach Aurelio Vidmar even said he “should be the best player in the league” last Thursday and his recent run of form only solidifies that claim.
