The Central Coast Mariners have confirmed Kwabena Appiah will continue his football journey overseas with the club accepting an undisclosed transfer for the speedy winger with immediate effect.
The 25-year-old has agreed to terms with an unnamed K-League 1 team who compete in the top tier of football in South Korea.
Appiah returned to the Central Coast Mariners in July 2016 after previously winning a Foxtel National Youth League with the club in 2011.
During his time with the Central Coast Mariners, Wellington Phoenix and the Western Sydney Wanderers, Appiah has made 79 appearances in the Hyundai A-League.
He first caught the eye of the Asian football market after playing a crucial role in the Wanderers’ 2014 AFC Champions League campaign that saw the lightning-fast attacker take home the club’s ACL Player of the Year award.
“I am really excited, this is a dream come true,” Appiah said.
“This came out of nowhere really and everything has happened so quickly.
“Before I came to the Central Coast Mariners my career wasn’t moving in the direction I had hoped. My move to the Mariners has really ignited my career.
“I can’t thank [coach] Paul Okon enough, he helped refine my game and my form this season is testimony to that. Paolo gave me the opportunity to showcase myself and has been a very important person in my life, me and my family hold the highest amount of respect for Paul Okon, so I can’t thank him enough.”
Appiah said his taste of playing in Asia in the ACL meant he always harboured a desire to test himself in abroad.
“After playing in the Champions League with the Wanderers I always said I wanted to play in Korea or Japan and now it’s a reality. In my second stint here, the fans have been fantastic, I’ve gained confidence, the staff have been amazing and the players have been first class,” Appiah said.
“I want to say a big thank you to the fans. I have enjoyed the fans vocally getting behind me in such a positive manner and I wish I could have repaid them with more goals for the team.
“I want to wish the boys the best of luck for the rest of the season. I am more than confident that they will make the top six, we will go on a run and finish where we deserve to finish.”
