Former Melbourne Victory defender Thomas Deng has joined Yokohama F.Marinos for the 2025 J1 League season.
Deng was linked with a return to the Isuzu UTE A-League but has opted to remain in Japan after leaving Albirex Niigata at the end of the 2024 campaign.
The 27-year-old Subway Socceroos defender’s arrival means he will link up with fellow Australian Patrick Kisnorbo, who is Steve Holland’s assistant this term after leaving Melbourne Victory as head coach in December.
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“I am really excited and happy to be joining this historic club,” Deng said. “The club has always had a strong presence in the J.League, and I have always admired F. Marinos’ style.
“I will do my best to be of help to the team! I am also looking forward to meeting all the wonderful fans and supporters at Nissan Stadium.
“Please support us! We will fight with all our might and strive to win. See you soon! Arigato Gozaimasu.”
Deng is the second Australian to play for Marinos after Milos Degenek in 2017-18, while A-Leagues greats Ange Postecoglou (2019) and Kevin Muscat (2022) guided the club to J1 League titles before Harry Kewell took charge in 2024 prior to being sacked and replaced on an interim basis by John Hutchinson.
Fellow Aussies Peter Cklamovski, Arthur Papas, Shaung Ontong and Ross Aloisi were also assistants at Marinos.