Melbourne City starlet Jordan Bos has become the record outbound transfer from Australia.
Just 18 months after making his senior Isuzu UTE A-League debut, Bos has become the most expensive transfer from Australia, after securing a $2 million move to Belgian top flight club KVC Westerlo.
The mega deal could rise to more than $3m with add-ons, capping off a remarkable season-and-a-half for the Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook junior, who has kept out City skipper Scott Jamieson en route to triggering mass interest from Europe.
Friday night’s second leg semi-final against Sydney FC at AAMI Park will be Bos’ final home match for City. It will be his 40th A-League game, while he has played 50 in all competitions, scoring three goals.
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Bos, 20, will depart for Belgium in June, after City’s 2022-23 commitments are complete. The A-League Grand Final will be played at Commbank Stadium on June 3.
His move eclipses the previous A-League record, believed to be held by ex-Melbourne City player Aaron Mooy, while it also surpasses ex-Socceroos and AC Milan goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac’s all-time record of $1.7m (Sydney United to Leicester City).
Unlike Mooy, who was sold to sister club Manchester City, Bos’ move is outside of the City Football Group network.
There have been bigger transfers involving Australians and overseas clubs. However, this is the biggest sale of an Australian-based player directly to an overseas club.
Also, several players are understood to have earnt their former A-Leagues clubs close to or in excess of $2m over several years, based on future add-ons and on-sales. They include Mitch Langerak (Melbourne Victory), Mat Ryan (Central Coast Mariners), Mooy (City) and Riley McGree (Adelaide United).
Bos, who has been viewed as an exciting left-back or left wingback prospect by European clubs, has attracted as much interest as any players in the A-League era, which saw City attract offers from multiple clubs.
Belgium has been one of the most successful breeding grounds for Australians since Eddie Krncevic blazed a trail in the 1980s, with the likes of Paul Okon, Aurelio Vidmar, Frank Farina, Josip Skoko, John Aloisi, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold and Ryan having played there.
Westerlo, who finished seventh in the regular season before the Belgian league split, are understood to have targeted Bos as a key signing for their 2023-24 campaign.
Sydney FC great Alex Brosque and current Melbourne City assistant coach, and former Australian youth international John Maisano have played at Westerlo.
Speaking to KEEPUP in February, a month out from his Socceroos debut, Bos revealed that he was eager to progress to Europe.
“Hopefully in the next couple of years I will go overseas. That’s my dream. So hopefully I keep pushing and keep proving myself and maybe get a call one day and head over there,” Bos said.
“When I was younger I used to go overseas quite a bit. We used to kick the ball at local clubs and meet up with cousins, it was good.
“The Dutch influence carried on from my father down to me and I like to keep up with what’s going on over there, supporting Feyenoord and also liking (FC) Twente and Heracles (Almelo).
“I always idolised both (Lionel) Messi and Arjen Robben. Especially when I played midfield and right wing. When I used to be a right-winger, Robben used to inspire me to cut in and banged it top ends (corner)
“I also fancy Alphonso Davies. More recently when I’ve started playing left back, I’ve watched Davies a lot.”
