Melbourne Victory have secured the talents of Australian striker Ben Folami for the 2020/21 A-League campaign.
Folami joins Grant Brebner’s side on loan from English League One outfit Ipswich Town.
The 21-year-old joined Ipswich’s academy in 2015 after a stint at the Football NSW Institute; since his move abroad Folami has featured for the Australian U-19 and U-23 sides whilst at club level the young attacker moved between his parent club Ipswich and fellow English side Stevenage on loan, before securing the loan move which brings him to Victory ahead of the new A-League season.
Speaking to the club website, Folami said he was excited by the vision laid out to him by Brebner for the club’s ambitions, and the part he’s been given to play in achieving the team’s goals.
“I’m very happy to have signed with Melbourne Victory this season,” Folami said.
“Victory is one of the biggest clubs in the country, they have such a big membership and fan base and obviously a very proud history of success.
“Speaking to Grant, he outlined a very clear vision he has for the team to get them back up the table.
“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to play under him, I can’t wait to start training with the team and putting in the hard work to make sure we’re ready to compete this season.”
READ: All players signed for the 2020/21 season
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Outrageous from @Benfolami9 🤯 #MVFC #Since05 pic.twitter.com/8VfDsSEGRM
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) October 29, 2020
As Victory added another attacking weapon to their arsenal the recruitment drive pushed ahead at Wellington Phoenix.
Australian midfielder Joshua Laws signed a two year contract with the club on Friday, while Sam Sutton and Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi both re-signed after showing promising signs in the 2019/20 A-League campaign.
Sutton, 18, featured four times for an exciting Phoenix outfit in the 2019/20 campaign as Ufuk Talay’s side surged to a third-place finish by the end of the regular season.
Talay says Sutton can take another step towards his bright future at the Phoenix under his new contract, on the back of the hard work he displays on the training track.
“Sam is an exciting player and at 18 years old he’s still got a lot of developing to do – but he’s on the right track and already he’s one of the hardest workers on the squad during practice,” Talay said.
“We believe Sam has all the tools and attitude to become a future star in the A-League, and the club expects big things for him next season.”
Hudson-Wihongi, meanwhile, re-signs for the club after an impressive end to the 2019/20 season, where he made all four of his starts for the club after the A-League restart.
With the departure of talismanic defender Steven Taylor, Hudson-Wihongi’s responsibilities are bound to grow throughout the length of his two-year contract.
“It feels great to re-sign with the Phoenix,” Hudson-Wihongi told the club website.
“It was a good season last year but obviously a disappointing way to end, but I’m hoping we can go back this year and push onto the Finals.
“I fully enjoyed my first season in the A-League and my goal next season is to play more; I fully enjoyed the minutes I played last season and now with Steven (Taylor) gone I’ll be fighting for a starting spot at centre-back alongside our other quality players – that’s a goal I’ve set for myself.”
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The Phoenix rounded out an impressive week of recruitment with the signing of 22-year-old Laws, who joins the Phoenix after a six-year stint in the youth system of German side Fortuna Dusseldorf, where he featured 23 times for the club’s second side in the Regionalliga.
Laws says the prospect of playing Wellington’s attractive brand of football and his ambition to work under Phoenix boss Talay were key factors in bringing him to the club.
“I’ve been in conversation with Ufuk and the club for a while now so I’m extremely excited to get going and meet the team – it’s a great club that I’ve been following over the past few years,” Laws said.
“Obviously I’ve known Ufuk for several years now through the [Australian] national team and I’ve always been attracted to the style of football the Phoenix plays, even more so under Ufuk – it’s interesting football to watch and for a player it’s great to play in.
“And that’s what I want, to be playing interesting, dynamic and winning football.
“Ufuk has talked about what he wants from me and how I can help the club – and I’m excited about my role, I consider myself a versatile player so it’s definitely something I’m looking forward to and it’s going to be an interesting step in my career as well.
A-League newcomers Macarthur FC added a taste of local talent to their squad with the recruitment of 26-year-old defender Jake McGing, announced by the club on Wednesday afternoon.
The Campbelltown local played his junior football with Eschol Park Wolves, located just five minutes away from Campbelltown Stadium where Macarthur will play their home games in their inaugural A-League campaign.
McGing has 90 games of A-League experience under his belt from five seasons split between Central Coast Mariners and Brisbane Roar.
Macarthur FC Head Coach Ante Milicic says McGing’s importance to the squad will be displayed in his work both on and off the field.
“When building a team from scratch you want to bring players to the club that will all bring different qualities to the team,” Milicic told the club website.
“No doubt Jake is a quality player on the field, but what he can bring off the pitch is just as important for us.
“Being a local, he can inspire the next generation playing in the Campbelltown area.”
Rounding out the transfer news is the arrival of Daniel Bouman on the Central Coast for the 2020/21 season.
Bouman was a member of the Australia U-23 side which recently qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games by finishing third at the 2020 AFC U-23 Championships in Uzbekistan.
The 22-year-old ventured to the Netherlands in 2014 to join Groningen’s youth setup before securing a move to fellow Dutch outfit SC Cambuur.
Bouman since returned to Australia where a training stint with the Mariners resulted in Head Coach Alen Stajcic offering the midfielder a permanent deal.
“It’s massive for me, to help me move forward in my professional career,” Bouman told the club website.
“It’s what any kid wants when they are younger. I always dreamed of playing football professionally and it’s a bit surreal when you think about it, that it’s become a reality from such a young age.”
“I used to watch football all the time and come to Mariners games every once in a while, so to be able to join this club is huge for me.”
“The training period has been great for me to come in and work with the team, form a relationship with Staj and learn the way they want to play.”
“The last couple of seasons here have been leaner years, but when I was younger the Mariners were always a strong team and one that was near the top, and I know that is where this club deserves to be and I want to help the Mariners to get back up there.”
