Perth Glory have secured a significant transfer coup, luring two-time Isuzu UTE A-League Champion Brian Kaltak away from Central Coast Mariners on a multi-year deal.
The 31-year-old Vanuatu international’s arrival in the West comes as a major shock after three years at the Mariners.
Kaltak won the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship in 2022-23 with Central Coast in his debut season at the club then went back-to-back in 2023-24 while also contributing to the club’s Premiership triumph and AFC Cup win in an historic trophy treble.
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Kaltak was named in Professional Footballers Australia (PFA)’s Team of the Season in both 2023 and 2024 and remains one of the best central defenders in the Isuzu UTE A-League, just three years into a professional career that began at the Mariners in 2022.
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But in his third season at the club, reports linking Kaltak with a move overseas suggested it was the end of the road for the experienced defender at the Mariners.
Two months ago, Mariners head coach Mark Jackson revealed Kaltak had expressed his intention to move to Asia, but in an unexpected turn of events, the serial winner has elected to remain in the Isuzu UTE A-League with Perth Glory.
“This is a new chapter for me and I’m excited for it,” Kaltak said, upon confirmation of his transfer to Perth.
“I was with the Mariners for three years and now it’s time to try something new. I think this move will be good for me and good for my football.
“When I spoke to (Glory football director) Stan Lazaridis, he was really passionate about what the club is trying to do.
“This club has a huge history of winning titles, Stan is trying to get it back to where it belongs and I want to be a part of that in my new journey. Creating a good environment and getting a good bunch of boys that gel well together, that’s what makes the biggest difference and that is what I want this club to be.”
Kaltak is the fifth experienced Isuzu UTE A-League campaigner to have signed for Glory since the end of the 2024-25 season. Phoenix duo Sam Sutton and Scott Wootton have both penned long-term deals with the club, as have Perth locals Callum Timmins and goalkeeper Mark Birighitti.
Glory’s five new arrivals boast an average of 108 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances when combining their respective stints in the competition.
In new recruits Wootton and Kaltak, Glory head coach David Zdrilic has lured two of the competition’s most experienced central defenders from Wellington and the Mariners, respectively, to form the bedrock of his defence for 2025-26.
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It’s a defence in desperate need of strengthening after Zdrilic’s side leaked 56 goals in 26 games last season – the most of any team in the competition.
Glory football director Stan Lazaridis describes Kaltak’s arrival as a “genuine coup” for the club.
“It’s impossible not to love the way Brian goes about his business,” Lazaridis said.
“He’s an incredibly strong and explosive defender who puts his body on the line every time he steps onto the field and is 100% committed to everything he does.
“Those qualities, plus his know-how in terms of what it takes to win the A-League, will make him an invaluable member of our squad and an ideal mentor for our younger defenders in particular.
“Securing Brian’s services is a genuine coup for the club and I’m really excited to see the impact he will make on and off the field for us this year and beyond.”
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