O’Neill departs Sky Blues to head overseas

Sydney FC have confirmed that midfielder Brandon O’Neill has left the club and signed for an unnamed overseas club.

The 25-year-old, who was earned his maiden Socceroos cap against the Korea Republic in Busan last June, heads to play abroad for the first time after 128 Hyundai A-League appearances and eight goals.

O’Neill had started seven matches for the Steve Corica’s side during their record-breaking start to the 2019/20 campaign, scoring one goal in Round 2 against Wellington Phoenix, and recording three assists.

A knee injury has kept the combative midfielder sidelined for the past five weeks, as Paulo Retre and Anthony Caceres have deputised alongside Luke Brattan in the heart of the Sky Blues midfield.

“I love Sydney FC and I have loved every minute of my time here,” said the Perth-born midfielder, who has moved for an undisclosed fee.

“Now is the right time for me to accept a new challenge and to move out of my comfort zone again and to see what else I can accomplish.”

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ECU Joondalup junior, O’Neill, made his professional debut for hometown club Perth Glory as a 17-year-old in 2011 and featured 17 times for the Western Australian outfit before heading east in 2015.

As a Sydney FC player, O’Neill lifted two Hyundai A-League Premierships, two Championships and an FFA Cup across a successful five-season spell.

“Brandon has been immensely important to this club’s success over the last five years and I would like to thank him on behalf of everyone,” head coach Corica said.

“He is an excellent player and we will be sorry to see him go, but I understand he feels he has achieved everything he can here at Sydney FC, and is keen to test himself elsewhere.

“More than that he is an excellent person who more than deserves this chance and we’ve agreed we won’t stand in his way.”