After Adrian Segecic became the FIFTH Australian player to have joined EFL Championship side Portsmouth from the Isuzu UTE A-League in the last two years, aleagues.com.au takes a look at the next crop of Aussie players who might catch Pompey’s eye.
Segecic sealed his move to Fratton Park after a season in Sky Blue which saw him finish as joint-winner of the Golden Boot with 13 goals alongside Adelaide United’s Archie Goodwin.
The 21-year-old will now link up with former Sydney FC teammate Hayden Matthews at the club where A-Leagues graduates Jacob Farrell (Central Coast Mariners) and Thomas Waddingham (Brisbane Roar) are currently plying their trade while ex-Wanderers and Adelaide forward Kusini Yengi was also at Fratton Park before moving on to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
No stranger to the type of players the Isuzu UTE A-League is producing, Pompey head coach John Mousinho was effusive of his praise of Aussie players in a recent interview:
“We love the A-Leagues, absolutely love it!”
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho
So with all that in mind, read on to find out which young Aussie players could potentially be on the radar of A-League fans’ new favourite club overseas!
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Panagiotis Kikianis: Adelaide United (CB)
If Portsmouth are looking for another young centre back in the mould of Socceroo Hayden Matthews then look no further than Adelaide United’s Panagiotis Kikianis.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in the Isuzu UTE A-League which saw him start 23 games for the Reds, thus cementing himself as a key figure at the heart of their defence despite his age.
In fact Kikianis would no doubt have played more for Carl Veart’s side during the course of the regular campaign had he not been away on international duty.
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Carrying his stellar club form into international duty, Kikianis played a pivotal role in helping the Australian U20 side win their first ever AFC U20 Asian Cup.
A powerful central defender who excels at bringing the ball out of defence, Kikianis ranked third when it came to successful forward passes out of defence last season and is comfortable using either foot.
No doubt already on the radar of plenty of European clubs looking to unearth another gem, the bad news is Kikianis is likely to command a sizeable fee.
Kealey Adamson: Macarthur Bulls FC (RB)
One of the standouts of the campaign in the Isuzu UTE A-League, Kealey Adamson is already reportedly attracting interest from clubs overseas.
Signed on a free transfer from Sydney FC, the 22-year-old excelled in his first full season with the Bulls under head coach Mile Sterjovski and played 26 games, scoring two goals and registering three assists.
A tough tackling defender with an engine to match, no defender in the competition made, and subsequently won, more tackles than the right-back did in the Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 season.
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Winning more duels than any other player as well, Adamson also ranked third when it came to successful recoveries made in the 2024-25 season as he showcased his ability to get up and down the right flank.
It’s also not just defensively where Adamson shone as the 22-year-old presented a constant threat for the Bulls going forward.
Only Central Coast Mariners’ Brazilian star Mikael Doka completed more successful take-ons than Adamson last season – and it’s worth remembering Doka often found himself playing in an attacking midfield role rather than that of a traditional full-back.
It’s no surprise then that reports from the UK are suggesting Championship side Queens Park Rangers are closely monitoring the situation when it comes Adamson’s future meaning he could well be playing against Pompey next season!
Ryan Teague: Melbourne Victory
If Pompey are in the market for central midfielder then they need look no further than Melbourne Victory’s Ryan Teague.
Now a fully fledged Socceroo with three caps to his name, Teague has flourished since returning to the Isuzu UTE A-League two seasons ago following a stint in Portuguese football where he was on the books of Primeira Liga club Famalicão.
Most recently named Victory’s Player of the Year at their end of season awards night, the 23-year-old shone for Victory in the heart of their midfield last season alongside teammate Jordi Valadon as Victory reached a second-consecutive Grand Final.
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A midfielder who loves to operate at the base of a midfield, only Brisbane Roar’s Jay O’Shea (73) won possession of the ball in his own defensive third more than Teague (62) did last season whilst he also ranks third for overall forward passes made by any midfielder in the competition (548).
Furthermore, Teague also ended the season amongst the league’s top 10 central midfielders when it came to successful passes, pass accuracy and progressive carries and there’s no doubt his ‘all-round ability’ was key to him making his Socceroos debut in March and subsequent appearances against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
But when you assess midfielders with a maximum age of 23 in the competition, Teague stands out in almost every category including ones that you may not associate with the metronomic midfielder.
For example, with 51 aerial duels won Teague is streets ahead of any other player in that category whilst he also ranks highly when it comes to duels won in the competition too.
‘Good at the simple things’ is how Teague described his style on the pitch but that doesn’t do him enough justice.
Dylan Peraic-Cullen: Central Coast Mariners – (GK)
With A-Leagues icon Danny Vukovic opting to retire after clinching an unprecedented treble with the Mariners last year, head coach Mark Jackson had a big decision to make for season 2024-25: Who would be his new number one?
Step forward 18-year-old goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen.
A surprise pick ahead of off-season recruit Alex Pavlesic for their Round One clash with Melbourne Victory, Peraic-Cullen shone for the Mariners in what would prove to be tough season.
Not only did that first appearance make him the Mariners’ youngest ever starting goalkeeper but it also saw him become the Isuzu UTE A-League’s youngest keeper to keep a clean sheet when starting.
SEASON REPORT CARDS
PART ONE: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated
PART TWO: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated
PART THREE: Your Isuzu UTE A-League side’s season rated
Whilst he stands at a towering six-feet-four Peraic-Cullen’s reflexes are certainly impressive and the 18-year-old finished his rookie season having made more saves inside the box than any other keeper in the league.
Furthermore he displayed a calmness and composure when playing out from the back which will no doubt have come from his time learning from the legendary Vukovic both as a teammate and then as his goalkeeping coach.
Whilst he may only now have played one full season of Isuzu UTE A-League football it’s clear the club were already bracing themselves for future offers for the shot-stopper.
Initially on a scholarship deal the club quickly upgraded the teenager to a professional contract and their number one is now tied down until the end of the 2026-27 season, with CIES Football Observatory actually estimating the Canberra native has a transfer value of close to $5m AUD.
Nishan Velupillay: Melbourne Victory (LW)
Proving himself to be one of the most dangerous attackers in the Isuzu UTE A-League last season, Melbourne Victory attacker Nishan Velupillay has enjoyed his best season to date in the competition.
Finishing the campaign with seven goals and four assists to his name the powerful attacker proved to be a constant threat throughout the course of the campaign whilst he also shone at international level with the Socceroos.
Receiving his first national team call-up under former Victory head coach Tony Popovic in October 2024, Velupillay came off the bench and scored within seven minutes of entering the field as he helped the Socceroos defeat China 3-1 in a crucial FIFA World Cup qualifier.
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Unfortunately for the 24-year-old winger, an ankle injury then disrupted his season as he missed a month’s worth of football. However when he did return Victory began their quest for a spot in the Finals Series and they’d ultimately reach the Grand Final where they’d go on to lose 1-0 to rivals Melbourne City.
A wide forward adept at playing on either side of the attack or through the middle, Velupillay’s pace and power make him a difficult proposition for defences to deal with when dribbling and the stats reflect this; the Victory man ranked fourth in the competition when it came to successful take-ons and attempted dribbles.
Sadly for both Victory and Velupillay though the 24-year-old would suffer another ankle injury in the second leg of their semi-final win over Auckland FC and this one would see him cruelly ruled out of the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final.
So whilst injury may have disrupted the Victory winger’s season there’s no doubt his star is certainly rising and with five Socceroos caps to his name and two goals, there will be no shortage of clubs keeping an eye on him, especially given his contract expires in 2026.
