Perth Glory academy product Josh Rawlins has returned to his hometown club on loan from Dutch side FC Utrecht for the remainder of the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The 19-year-old is back in Perth on loan after signing a four-year deal with Utrecht in mid-2022, where he’s since made 24 appearances for the Dutch Eredevise club’s U21 outfit.
Rawlins made 34 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances for Perth in two seasons as part of the club’s senior setup; the versatile defender joined Glory as an 11-year-old, rising through the academy ranks to make his senior debut in a 2019 friendly with Manchester United at Optus Stadium.
Rawlins has represented Australia at every youth age group, including the 2023 AFC U20 Asian Cup where he captained the Young Socceroos to the quarter-finals.
In mid-2023 Rawlins ventured to France with the Olyroos for the Maurice Revello Tournament, and will look to play a key role in helping Australia’s U23 national team qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games via the 2024 U23 Asian Cup, kicking off in April.
Upon his return to Perth, Rawlins said: “It’s a good opportunity for myself to come home and play some football.
“Coming through the (Perth Glory) academy, reaching the first team and playing for my hometown club was a proud moment for me.
“To play in front of the Glory fans at HBF Park is amazing.
“Alen (Stajcic) seems like a good coach and I’m really looking forward to playing under him.”
Glory CEO Anthony Radich hailed Rawlins as a “hugely talented player with a great future in front of him – and very much one of our own.”
“It’s fantastic to have Josh back at Glory,” Radich added.
“I would like to sincerely thank FC Utrecht for agreeing to this deal and also the player’s agency, most notably Mich d’Avray and Matthew Moore, for making it happen.
“I’m sure our members and fans will be very excited to see Josh representing his hometown club once again.”
Rawlins is expected to come into contention for a place in Glory’s squad to take on Melbourne City on Friday night.
