Sydney FC have signed Mustafa Amini on a six-month deal, with the Socceroos midfielder joining the club from Cypriot first division side Apollon Limassol.
Amini, 28, arrives to fill the noticeable void left by the injured Luke Brattan in the Sky Blues midfield. Brattan, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in late November, will miss the remainder of the 2021/22 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Amini last featured in the A-League in April, 2012 for Central Coast Mariners at the age of 18. A European move to German giants Borussia Dortmund was to follow for Amini, where the central midfielder spent three seasons. He would then move to Denmark to play for both Randers FC and Aarhus GF, before moving to Cyprus to join Apollon Limassol in mid-2021.
Amini began training with the squad this week, but won’t be eligible to play for the club until the January transfer window opens on January 14, and the deal is ratified by FIFA.
In a club statement, Sydney FC claim two other Isuzu UTE A-League clubs were contending for Amini’s signature, but upon arrival Amini told club media it was an easy option to sign for the club he sees as the “biggest in Australia”.
“I’ve always wanted to play at home,” Amini said. “I didn’t know when I would be back, but I think it’s about 10 years now since I played in the A-League so I’m very excited to join Sydney, and can’t wait to get started.
“(The signing process) went pretty fast, actually. I was contracted in Cyprus, that finished and Sydney gave me a call through my agent… he fixed it all up and next thing you know I’m on the plane and back home.
“It’s a big challenge for me. Coming back home there’ll be all eyes on me. I’m looking forward to that pressure. Being part of Sydney, everyone wants to knock us down so I’m glad to be a part of a big club and looking forward to playing as many games as possible – and winning the premiership and grand final.
Amini added: “Everyone knows Sydney FC. When I was overseas and telling (people) I was going to sign for Sydney FC, everyone knows Sydney FC. It’s the biggest club in Australia – there’s no doubt about that.
“I’m home, and i’m just glad to be here, work under Corica and play for the badge.”
It’s been a long journey home for the eight-capped Socceroos midfielder, who left Australia as a teen to pursue his European dream.
Along the way he trained and played alongside some of the world’s biggest names – and now Amini is eager to see whether a near-decade of European experience will elevate his game to a new level upon his return.
“When I first left the A-League I was still young,” he said. “I was 17 when I started and left at 18. Now I’m 28, so 10 years later I’m excited to see how I’ve developed… the league has gotten stronger of course, but I’m just looking forward to getting started.
“I went to Dortmund, I was sitting next to Mitch Langerak in the Champions League game against Manchester City, and those kind of things.
“I got to train with (Robert) Lewandowski, (Pierre-Emerick) Aubameyang, I could name them all, it was a pleasure to be there, overseas was tough, it’s European football, you know? I’m just glad to be back now, and play in front of my friends and family.
“That’s also a nice thing, to be home. My mum is going to come to the games, my brother, my sister, everyone is going to want to come. They’re all excited, and my daughter is home with my family as well.”
