Sydney FC have confirmed Subway Socceroos midfielder and 216-game Sky Blues great Anthony Caceres will depart the Isuzu UTE A-League club after six seasons in Sky Blue.
The 32-year-old has called time on his decorated stint at Sydney FC after both he and the club failed to agree on new contract terms.
In a club statement, Sydney FC confirmed “a strong offer” was tabled in an effort to retain Caceres, but the Socceroos midfielder would not return in Sky Blue for the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season due to “a desire to play continental football in a World Cup season, and make a move in the best interests of his family.”
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Caceres won two Isuzu UTE A-League Championships with the Sky Blues in 2019 and 2020, as well as the 2020 Premiership and 2023 Australia Cup title.
The 2021-22 Sydney FC Player of the Year and Members’ Player of the Year scored 18 goals in 216 appearances in all competitions for the club.
Caceres made his senior international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia in November, 2024 and has since accrued four Socceroos caps.
With the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup on the horizon, the outgoing Sydney FC midfielder expressed his desire to push for a place in Australia’s squad for the major tournament as he bid farewell to the club he’s called home since 2019.
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“I’m incredibly grateful for the love and support I’ve received from our members and fans over the years. It’s been an honour to wear the Sky Blue shirt and represent such a proud club,” Caceres said.
“I want to thank all of my teammates – past and present – as well as the incredible staff who’ve helped me along the way. I’ve built friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.
“This is a pivotal moment in my career and I need to put my family first. I also want to keep pushing for more opportunities with the Socceroos, with the ultimate dream of a place at the World Cup.”
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Caceres is the eighth player to have departed the Sky Blues since the end of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 season, joining Patryk Klimala (end of loan), Andrew Redmayne, Jaushua Sotirio (end of loan), Jaiden Kucharski, Max Burgess, Anas Ouahim and Adrian Segecic in heading for the exit door at the Sky Blues.
Whilst expressing his disappointment at losing Caceres, Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay thanked the long-serving midfielder for his contribution over his six-year stint in Sky Blue.
“We’re disappointed to see Anthony move on – he’s been a key figure at the club for many years and someone we were very keen to keep,” Talay said.
“Unfortunately, it’s a fine balance when it comes to re-signing experienced players and building a squad, especially with the movement in the salary cap.
“We completely understand, despite being disappointed by Anthony’s decision, and we wish him and his family all the very best.
“However, his departure will give one of our brilliant, young talented players a great opportunity to show what he can do and we are making strong progress on a number of new signings to strengthen our squad.”
