Sydney FC have signed promising young defender Ben Warland until the end of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 season, the club confirmed today.
Earlier, Adelaide United confirmed the 21-year-old centre-back would depart the Reds in order to ‘pursue another opportunity’.
Warland has played six times for the Reds in the A-League this season, having last pulled on an Adelaide shirt when he helped eke out a 0-0 draw at Coopers Stadium against the Sky Blues earlier this month.
The South Australian-born youngster also played against Sydney FC in the 2017 FFA Cup Final and will link up with the Sky Blues immediately.
.@BenWarland1 departs Reds. Good luck, Ben!
📰 Read more: https://t.co/UotSdHv9yj pic.twitter.com/dydrfqrM2Q
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) January 31, 2018
Warland said he was excited by the opportunity to join the reigning Champions.
“The chance to join the best club in the league doesn’t come around every day, I’m really excited and grateful to be joining the Sky Blues,” Warland said.
“I’ve seen the standards set by the club, it’s a professional environment I want to be a part of, and I’ll give my all to defend the club’s titles and put our stamp on Asia.
“I can’t wait to get started and I’m keen for the year ahead.”
Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold said Warland would fit in perfectly to his side and provide ample competition for places during the busiest period of the season.
“Ben is a young left-footed central defender with a great attitude and a will to learn, and he’ll provide us with another option in defence heading into a hectic schedule,” Arnold said.
“I’ve watched him from afar for a while now and I’m impressed by the potential he’s shown. He’ll possess all the right traits to be a Sky Blue and he’ll fit in well with this squad.
“I’m looking forward to working with Ben and I welcome him to Sydney FC.”
CONFIRMED | @BenWarland1 is Sky Blue! The young central defender joins us until the end of the 2018/19 season – https://t.co/p1vryVwe3u #SydneyIsSkyBlue pic.twitter.com/TbE2vUgnvR
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) January 31, 2018
