Newcastle Jets have confirmed a fresh round of player movements, with winger Jaushua Sotirio departing as full-backs Jacob Dowse and Lucas Mauragis link up with the club.
According to a media release on Tuesday, Sotirio is off to ‘take up an overseas opportunity in Asia’ after contributing three goals and four assists in 23 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances in his sole season with the Jets.
The identity of the club is yet to be reported.
Meanwhile, Newcastle welcome back local boy and academy product Dowse who has signed a two-year deal, joining from Perth Glory, where he registered five assists in 17 appearances this term.
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“I can’t wait to get back to Newcastle and get started. I’m absolutely buzzing!” Dowse said.
“This is the team I grew up supporting being a young boy from Newcastle, and I can’t wait to put on the gold jersey for the first time.”
Dowse’s transfer has not exactly been a secret, with the Glory announcing his departure back in March in a statement where the club’s head of recruitment Andy Keogh clarified they did all they could to keep him and saying he ‘wanted to return home to Newcastle to be with family and friends’.
Speaking to KEEPUP, the 22-year-old said: “It was such a tough decision not to stay here. I love everyone here, the staff, the players, we’ve got a really good group.
“It was a really, really tough decision – but at the end of the day, I don’t regret it. I’m looking forward to what’s to come for the next few years.”
Mauragis will return to the Jets after spending this season on loan at Wellington Phoenix, where he made 20 appearances. This announcement caps a big week for the 21-year-old, who was named in Tony Vidmar’s Olyroos squad for the prestigious Maurice Revello Tournament next month alongside the likes of Garang Kuol and Marco Tilio, among others.
