Perth Glory have announced the signing of 19-year-old Young Socceroo and former Blackburn Rovers attacker Jamie Maclaren on a three-year deal
Perth Glory have announced the signing of 19-year-old Young Socceroo and former Blackburn Rovers attacker Jamie Maclaren on a three-year deal
The gifted attacker was one of Australia’s stand-outs during last month’s Under-20 FIFA World Cup, scoring a stunning goal against Turkey and having opted to end his four-year spell with English club Blackburn Rovers, rejected overtures from a host of top European and Australian clubs to pen a three-year deal with Glory.
“I-m thrilled to be joining Perth Glory for the next three years.,” he said.
“I learnt a lot in England, but ultimately, at this stage of my career, I-d love the opportunity to be playing regular first team football.
“Alistair Edwards was a major factor in my decision to join Perth and I believe he-ll help develop my football at club level which will hopefully allow me to fulfil my ambition to keep progressing through the national team setup.
“I-ve got plenty of hard work ahead of me and now I-m looking forward to meeting my new teammates and beginning pre-season.”
Originally from Melbourne, Maclaren featured for local clubs Sunbury United and Green Gully, along with the Victorian Institute of Sport before joining then-Premier League side Blackburn Rovers in 2009 at the tender age of 15.
He subsequently topped the goalscoring charts for the Ewood Park club’s Academy side last season, while at international level, he debuted in last year’s Under-19 AFC Championship Qualifiers and bagged a memorable hat-trick against Indonesia.
It was those impressive efforts within the Australia set-up that brought him to the attentions of Alistair Edwards and Glory’s Head Coach believes that the capture of the dynamic young attacker is a genuine coup for the club.
“I’m absolutely delighted that Jamie has chosen to sign for Perth Glory,” said Edwards.
“He had a host of clubs interested in him, but he clearly feels that he can progress with us and his signing is another clear indication that our club is establishing itself as a place where the best young Australian talent will be given the opportunity to play regular first team football and develop.
“Anyone who watched Australia in the Under-20 World Cup would have been hugely impressed by Jamie’s performances.
“He’s equally comfortable playing in a central position or out wide and I’m sure he’ll prove to be a major asset for Perth Glory going forward.”
Maclaren is expected to arrive in Perth in July 15th and then join the rest of the squad for their pre-season tour of South Africa.
