Brisbane Roar have handed Queensland product and centre-back Austin Ludwik his first professional contract in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Ludwik – a two-time NPL Queensland Player of the Year – has signed a deal until the end of the current season.
The 27-year-old defender arrives from Gold Coast Knights, where he captained the NPLM QLD side to two Premierships and a pair of Championships.
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Ludwik is no stranger to the Roar having been part of the club’s youth setup between 2014 and 2016, while he also captained the Queensland State Team against Brisbane before beating Victoria in the battle of the State’s last year.
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“I’m super excited to be here, grateful for the opportunity and to get my first professional deal which has come a little later, a bit of the long way round to get here,” said Ludwik, who is in contention to make his debut against Wellington Phoenix on Thursday.
“But I’m very proud to do it in a Queensland club being a Queenslander and I’m very excited to get going.
“For the remainder of the year I just want to get involved in the group as a senior player now, be a leader and help the team kick on and finish a lot stronger than it’s been so far and I think the playing group has the players there to do that and I think I can be a part of that and help.”
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Ludwik is the second new face at the Roar during the January transfer window, after Nathan Amanatidis while Henry Hore is also back in Brisbane following his loan stint in South Korea.
Meanwhile, the bottom-placed Roar have farewelled Harry Van Der Saag (mutual termination), Joe Caletti, Thomas Waddingham, Neicer Acosta and Alex Parsons.