John Koutroumbis is the latest player to join Perth Glory’s rebuild and the versatile defender is motivated by the club’s “unlimited potential” as they look to return to the Isuzu UTE A-League finals.
Koutroumbis has signed a two-year deal in Perth following his Western Sydney Wanderers exit via mutual termination.
Perth finished bottom of the A-League Men standings last season and have been busy trying to rectify the failings of 2021-22, bringing in Ryan Williams, Mark Beevers, Aaron McEneff, Ben Azubel, Mustafa Amini, Stefan Colakovski, Matt Hatch and Keegan Jelacic.
Koutroumbis has joined Ruben Zadkovich’s revolution and the 24-year-old – who made 16 starts for the Wanderers last term – has finals football and a maiden Socceroos cap on the agenda in Perth.
“My decision was made easy by the way the head coach [Ruben Zadkovich] and others behind the scenes spoke about the new project that is going on at the club,” he said.
“Being a part of something new and exciting sets a challenge that has unlimited potential and it motivates me.
“On a personal level, my short-term goal with the club is to make Finals and push as far as we can as a collective.
“My long-term goal is to eventually, with the help of the coaching team at Glory, sign a professional contract in Europe and win my first cap for Australia.
“I’d like to add that I’m so excited to get started with the team, to meet the lads and help build a culture of a winning mentality and get Glory back playing Finals football.”
Former Under-23 Australia international Koutroumbis – who can play as a centre-back, right-back or in midfield – made his debut for Newcastle Jets in 2016.
Koutroumbis spent five seasons with the Jets before making the move to Western Sydney, where he scored once in 17 ALM matches last campaign.
“I’m very happy to have Johnny on board,” Zadkovich said. “He is a player I’ve followed for a very long time.
“He was playing regularly when he was quite young alongside a very close mate of mine, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, during his time at Newcastle.
“Johnny has made very good progress since those days and his game has really developed.
“That being said, I don’t think he’s anywhere close to his ceiling yet as a player which is exciting.”
“His versatility defensively and composure in possession will make him a very important piece of the puzzle.”
