Sydney FC have signed former Juventus, Bayern Munich and 31-cap Brazil international Douglas Costa, in one of the most high-profile transfers Isuzu UTE A-League history.
The 33-year-old has enjoyed a glistening career to date, and arrives in Sydney as a three-time Bundesliga Champion, a three-time Serie A Champion and a Brazil World Cup squad member, with 76 UEFA Champions League appearances to his name.
But where does the former teammate of the likes of Ronaldo, Neymar and Robert Lewandowski sit among the all-time biggest signings in Isuzu UTE A-League history?
aleagues.com.au lists 10 of the highest profile arrivals throughout the competition’s now 20-year history, plus some honourable mentions.
*Players listed in no particular order
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Keisuke Honda
In 2018, Melbourne Victory announced the signature of Keisuke Honda, Japan international, three-time World Cup squad member and former AC Milan star in what was without question the biggest signing in the club’s history at the time.
In Honda, Victory had acquired the highest-scoring Asian player in World Cup history and his time at the club got off to a bright start when Honda was named as the season’s first PFA Player of the Month.
The Japanese star suffered a hamstring injury in mid-season but managed to make 20 league appearances for Victory and score seven goals before his departure from the club in May, 2019.
Harry Kewell
Part of the Socceroos’ iconic golden era, Harry Kewell returned to Australia in 2012 to complete a club career that took the Australian winger to the heights of Premier League stardom, firstly with Leeds United before a five-year stint at Liverpool in the mid-2000’s.
Kewell, a member of the Socceroos’ 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, joined Melbourne Victory in 2011-12 where he scored eight goals in 25 games. But in 2013, the former Victory star turned heads with a move to the club’s local rivals, Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City).
Kewell spent one season at the Heart, and scored two goals.
Emile Heskey
Former England international and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey spent the majority of his professional career playing for clubs in the top two divisions of English football – bar a two-year stint in the Isuzu UTE A-League with the Newcastle Jets.
A marquee for season 2012-13, Heskey joined the Australian club in an unforgettable era for the league; Japanese superstar Shinji Ono was at Western Sydney Wanderers, Alessandro Del Piero was at Sydney FC and Heskey, who scored 10 goals in two seasons in Newcastle, was putting bums on seats at McDonald Jones Stadium as the club’s marquee.
Douglas Costa
Former Juventus and Bayern Munich star Douglas Costa is set to call Sydney home for the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season, and his arrival at the Sky Blues has been met with a mixture of disbelief and excitement.
Capped 31 times by Brazil, the 33-year-old has the potential to dominate the Isuzu UTE A-League should he remain fit; having accumulated trophies in the Serie A, Bundesliga and Ukranian Premier League, the winger will look to execute his signature trickery and explosive style of play Down Under.
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Nani
His Melbourne Victory stint was brief and impacted by injury, but there’s no doubting the calibre Portugal international Luis Nani brought to the Isuzu UTE A-League in 2022-23, nor the excitement generated by his arrival.
A former star of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, Nani won the UEFA Euros with Portugal in 2016, one of three Euros campaigns throughout his career, and represented his nation at the 2014 World Cup.
Nani suffered a partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury 10 games into his Victory career and sadly did not return to the pitch with the club. Nani now plies his trade in Portugal at Estrela Da Amadora.
David Villa
In June of 2014, Melbourne City – soon after City Football Group’s takeover of the club – turned heads with the acquisition of Spain international, World Cup winner and former Valencia and Barcelona star David Villa on a 10-game loan deal from City’s new sister club New York City FC.
Villa scored in successive games to kick off his stint in Melbourne but just four games into the short-term contract, was recalled by New York.
Robbie Fowler
In 2009, North Queensland Fury were the new kids on the block in the Isuzu UTE A-League, and former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler was signed as the club’s maiden marquee player.
Fowler enjoyed an illustrious career in England, which included 183 goals scored in 369 games across two stints at Liverpool.
The Englishman, who earned the nickname ‘God’ from Liverpool fans, spent one season at North Queensland before a move to Perth Glory. He scored 18 goals in 54 appearances across his two seasons in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Romario
Signed on a guest contract by Adelaide United in 2006, Romario arrived in the Isuzu UTE A-League near the end of an illustrious three-decade playing career in which he won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil.
The former PSV Eindhoven and FC Barcelona star scored one goal in his four games for the Reds, at the age of 40. Romario retired three years later but, incredibly, announced his return to professional football in 2024 after a 15-year absence, signing for America Football Club of Rio de Janeiro aged 58!
Dwight Yorke
For the first season of the Isuzu UTE A-League, Sydney FC secured the services of a World Cup winner in Pierre Littbarski as the club’s head coach. On the pitch, the club searched for a player held in similar esteem – and found their man in Trinidad and Tobago striker Dwight Yorke.
A star of Manchester United’s unforgettable 1998-1999 treble-winning squad, Yorke’s arrival in Sydney was monumental for the club and the league.
Yorke scored the club’s first-ever goal and in the league’s inaugural Grand Final, set up the only goal in Sydney’s 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners. Yorke was awarded the Joe Marston Medal for his performance in the title decider.
Alessandro Del Piero
Juventus and Italy icon Alessandro Del Piero signed for Sydney FC in 2012 and made 48 league appearances for the club across two seasons, scoring 24 goals.
The 2006 World Cup winner and six-time Serie A Champion remains to this day the biggest name to grace the Isuzu UTE A-League, and his form for Sydney warranted the hype.
A four-goal haul against Wellington Phoenix in 2013, a long-range free-kick against Newcastle Jets in late 2012 and an absolute stunner away to Perth Glory stand out as iconic moments produced by Del Piero in a Sky Blue shirt throughout his brief but blistering stint at the club.
Honourable mentions
- Shinji Ono (Western Sydney Wanderers 2012 – 2014)
- Tim Cahill (Melbourne City (2016 – 2018)
- Juninho Paulista (2008 – 2008)
- Damien Duff (Melbourne City 2014 – 15)
- Brett Emerton (Sydney FC (2011 – 2014)
- Ola Toivonen (Melbourne Victory 2018 – 2020)
