Sydney FC have completed their biggest signing in over a decade with the arrival of Brazilian star Douglas Costa announced on Monday morning.
The 33-year-old brings pedigree at the highest level having won three Serie A titles, three Bundesliga titles and earning 31 caps for the Brazilian national team, including featuring at a World Cup.
FULL DETAILS: Sydney FC sign Douglas Costa in huge transfer coup
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Costa brings an instant injection of quality and experience into a Sydney FC side embracing youth under Ufuk Talay, who will be out to improve on a fourth place finish last season.
Here’s how the Brazilian star could slot into the Sky Blues’ starting XI in 2024-25…
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Goalkeeper: Andrew Redmayne
The Australian international will be Sydney’s undisputed No. 1 heading into the new campaign, but faces competition from the likes of new signing Harrison Devenish-Meares and young gun Gus Hoefsloot.
Left-back: Joel King
King has returned on a full-time basis after a stint with Danish outfit Odense and locked down his spot on the left of defence. A Socceroo, he featured 20 times in all competitions last term.
Centre-back: Jordan Courtney-Perkins
Olyroos defender Courtney-Perkins enjoyed a strong debut campaign with the Sky Blues last term, featuring 26 times and adding three goals. Primarily played at left-back, the departures of Jake Girdwood-Reich, Gabriel Lacerda and Jack Rodwell mean a shift centrally looks to be on the cards in 2024-25.
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Centre-back: Hayden Matthews
A breakout star of last season, Matthews has not looked back since breaking into the first team at the turn of the year. The 20-year-old could be among the next crop of A-Leagues stars to earn a move abroad if his trajectory continues in the new campaign.
Right-back: Rhyan Grant ©
One of the great one-club men of the A-Leagues, Grant’s special Sydney FC story gets a new chapter this season with the captain’s armband. A Socceroo with 291 matches of Isuzu UTE A-League experience, he remains one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Centre midfield: Leo Sena
A Brazilian midfielder who’s featured in Serie A, Leo Sena brings serious pedigree to the Sky Blues’ engine room. The new signing, who has played previously for Spezia and Atletico Mineiro, will be hoping to hit the ground running in his first season down under.
Centre midfield: Anthony Caceres
A mainstay of this Sydney FC side since 2019, Caceres is among the most highly-rated playmakers in the Isuzu UTE A-League. Last season, he contributed three goals in 28 appearances, with all but one being starts.
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Centre midfield: Anas Ouahim
Another new arrival, the Morocco U23 international has already enjoyed an impressive start to life in Sky Blue, scoring for fun in pre-season. Ouahim is an attacking midfielder who will be looking to add more goals from midfield as Sydney compete on two fronts this term.
Right wing: Joe Lolley
The Englishman has lit up the Isuzu UTE A-League in his first two seasons since arriving from Nottingham Forest. Lolley has scored 18 goals in 55 appearances so far in the competition and now looks set to form half of the most decorated wing pairing Australian club football has ever seen.
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Striker: Jaiden Kucharski
Talay may still be looking to bring in a number nine if rumours are to be believed, but in 22-year-old Kucharski he has a rising star at his disposal. Able to play anywhere across the front three, the young gun scored three goals and provided three assists in 801 minutes of league action last term.
Left wing: Douglas Costa
The new jewel in Sydney’s crown could start off the left, where he has played frequently throughout his glittering career, after signing a two-year deal. Costa brings electric pace, skill and trickery and has all the weapons to torment A-Leagues defences during his stay in the harbour city. Also capable of playing on the right or centrally, he’ll be tough to stop.
4-3-3 (Redmayne; King, Courtney-Perkins, Matthews, Grant; Sena, Caceres, Ouahim; Lolley, Kucharski, Costa)
