Sydney FC have strengthened their defence following the departure of Socceroo Hayden Matthews, signing central defender Alex Grant on a deal until the end of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Grant arrives in the Harbour City after spending the last four years plying his trade in Asia, most notably with South Korean giants Pohang Steelers, where he played close to 100 games across both the K League 1 and AFC Champions League competitions.
The 31-year-old former Perth Glory defender, who reached the 2021 Champions League final with Pohang – moves to Sydney FC having most recently played for Chinese Super League side Tianjin Jinmen Tiger FC after featuring 10 times throughout the 2024 season as Kevin Muscat’s Shanghai Port reigned supreme.
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“I’m thrilled to be signing with Sydney FC – a club with such a rich history of success,” said Grant after news of his deal was made official.
“I know the expectations here, and I’m hungry to add more silverware to my career.
“The squad is full of top-quality players, some of the best in the country, and I’m confident we can achieve great things this season.”
The Sky Blues had been scouting the transfer market for a new centre-back following the departure of 20-year-old Matthews, who joined EFL Championship side Portsmouth for a club-record fee of $2.5million.
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“Alex is a fantastic addition to our squad,” said Sydney FC head coach Talay.
“He’s played well over 200 games across multiple leagues, including the K League 1, Chinese Super League, and Isuzu UTE A-League.
“He’s a left-sided defender with great composure on the ball and a strong defensive presence. His winning mentality and leadership will be valuable in guiding our younger players.
“He’s also a player who can score a goal, which is always a bonus from a defender.”
Once fully integrated into the Sky Blues set-up, Grant is likely to partner defender Alexandar Popovic at the heart of the defence.
Currently on loan at the club from Korean side Gwangju FC, Sydney FC are set to make Popovic’s move a permanent one before the current transfer window closes on February 12.
Talay’s side host high-flying Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium in Round 17 of the Isuzu UTE A-League where it’s expected club captain Rhyan Grant will again be shifted to centre back alongside Popovic to accommodate for the loss of Matthews.
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Sat seven in the standings following their defeat to Melbourne Victory in Round 16, the Sky Blues head into the latest round of fixtures desperately looking to regain some ground on the top six following successive league defeats.