Sydney FC have re-signed Dutch defender Jordy Buijs on a new one-year deal, the club confirmed today.
Buijs joined the Sky Blues in January 2017 and stamped his authority on the squad from the outset with his commanding presence at the heart of a rock solid defence that shipped only 12 goals all season.
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The centre half quickly endeared himself to the Sydney FC faithful through his no holds barred play, tussles with opposition strikers and his quirky off field antics, playing a total of 13 games on his way to collecting a Premiership and Championship.
Buijs said he was pleased to be remaining a Sky Blue, and revealed his family played a part in his decision to sign.
“I’m very happy [to have re-signed],” Buijs said.
“It’s going to be another tough and difficult season but it’s a good challenge to defend the title and that’s why I signed.
“I have a good feeling at the club, they accept me for who I am, the fans like me and I have a good connection with everyone at Sydney FC.
“My family means a lot to me and they made the decision also, they wanted to stay, so the three of us are all very happy.
“[There are goals, but] it will be a little bit different to when I joined in the summer, we’ll have a lot of new goals next season that we’ll discuss following our break.”
Head Coach Graham Arnold said he was delighted to have secured Buijs for a further year, hailing the Dutchman as a vital cog in his setup.
“Jordy was instrumental in the back half of the 2016/17 season,” Arnold said.
“He was a key contributor to our Australian football record of least goals conceded in a season and he’s a pleasure to work with.
“The fans love him, he’s Sky Blue through and through and I’m very much looking forward to next season with Jordy at the heart of our defence.”
Buijs will return to Holland with his family before reporting for pre-season training in July with the rest of the squad.
