Melbourne City have completed a double deal on transfer deadline day, luring Subway Socceroos full-back Nathaniel Atkinson back to the Isuzu UTE A-League club while signing Israel international Yonatan Cohen.
Atkinson is a Championship winner with City and returns to the Melbourne side on a three-year deal from Scottish Premiership side Hearts.
Cohen arrives on a one-year contract from Israeli champions and giants Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Click here to secure your Unite Round tickets TODAY!
“Bringing Nathaniel and Yonatan to the Club has been a priority for us, two deals that we’ve
been working on for some time, and we appreciate the professional approach of both Hearts
and Maccabi Tel Aviv in helping facilitate these moves,” said director of football Michael Petrillo.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nathaniel back to Melbourne City. His experience in Europe and time with the Socceroos have added depth to his game, and we are confident he will make an immediate impact upon his return.
“Yonatan’s ability to influence games with his creativity, vision and goal scoring ability adds another dimension to the team, and we believe he’ll prove to be a great asset to our squad.
“Both players are proven winners who align with the exciting and dynamic style of football we pride ourselves on at City.”
‘YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE WATCHING US PLAY’: How 9,272km trip ‘opened doors’ for Chiefy’s Phoenix 2.0
MY SIX MONTHS WITH RONALDO: Inside Soceroo’s ‘shock’ link up with Saudi powerhouse
‘IT’S NEXT LEVEL’: Victory recruit’s ‘insane’ adventure at Asia’s new go-to club for Aussies
Atkinson is a City player again after leaving AAMI Park for Hearts in 2022.
The academy graduate emerged as one the Isuzu UTE A-League’s most exciting players after helping City to the Premiership-Championship double in 2021.
The 26-year-old’s performance in the 2020-21 Grand Final saw him named the Joe Marston Medallist before Hearts came calling following the loss to Western United in the 2021-22 decider.
A 13-time Australia international, Atkinson spent three years in Edinburgh, where he scored three goals in 72 appearances across all competitions.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Victory’s new No. 9 excels as star GK puts on masterclass to create Cup omen
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to come back to Melbourne City, a place that feels like home to me,” Atkinson said.
“My time at Hearts was a fantastic experience, but I’m excited to be back where it all started and contribute to the team’s future success.
“I’ve grown a lot as a player and as a person, and I can’t wait to bring that experience to the pitch.
“I’ve missed the incredible support of the City fans, and I can’t wait to run out at AAMI Park again this season.”
Adding “creativity, vision and versatility”, eight-time Israel international Cohen brings a wealth of experience to Aurelio Vidmar’s City.
The 28-year-old played 149 games for Maccabi Tel Aviv, scoring 42 goals and supplying 29 assists.
“When I heard about the opportunity to join Melbourne City, I didn’t hesitate. The club has a strong culture of success, and I’m confident I can bring my experience and skills to help build on that,” said Cohen.
“I’m excited to play in front of the fans and contribute to the exciting football this team is known for.”
