Socceroo Connor Metcalfe will leave Isuzu UTE A-League champions Melbourne City at the end of the season to join German club St Pauli on a three-year deal.
City on Thursday confirmed a deal had been reached with the 2.Bundesliga outfit, which will allow Metcalfe to play in the club’s inaugural AFC Asian Champions League group stage campaign in April as well as the remainder of the A-League Men season.
St Pauli head coach Timo Schultz said: “Connor Metcalfe can occupy various positions in central midfield and will give us more options and flexibility from next season.”
“In Connor Metcalfe, we’ve acquired a young player who has already gained match practice at a high level and still has plenty of potential to develop,” added director of sport Andreas Bornemann.
The 22-year-old has been with City since joining as an academy player at 15.
Since debuting for City in 2018, Metcalfe has made 62 appearances and played a key role in the club’s ALM premiership/championship double last season.
Metcalfe will join fellow Socceroo Jackson Irvine at the Hamburg-based St Pauli, who are firmly in the running for promotion to the Bundesliga, sitting atop second-tier ladder after 22 matches this season.
“We completely understand (Connor’s) desire to test himself in the biggest leagues in Europe and he is moving to an equally ambitious club in FC St Pauli,” City’s director of football Michael Petrillo said.
City’s next match is against Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park on Friday.
