Newcastle Jets have announced the capture of attacking midfielder Devante Clut on a two-season deal after the 20-year-old was granted a release by Brisbane Roar.
Hyundai A-League transfer wrap for season 2016/17
Clut arrives at the Jets following a two-and-a-half-year stay in the sunshine state and made eight appearances off the bench for John Aloisi’s side this season.
Having come through Brisbane’s youth ranks Clut scored some spectacular goals when given the opportunity, including one on his Roar debut against Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium.
Clut made his mark on Brisbane’s 2015 AFC Champions League campaign by playing in four of the club’s six Group G games and netting a brilliant brace on matchday 3 against K-League heavyweights Suwon Bluewings on the Gold Coast.
The former Young Socceroo also scored a double against Spanish La Liga outfit Villarreal in Roar’s 3-0 LFP World Challenge win in Queensland in June last year.
Newcastle Jets coach Scott Miller said Clut would be a valuable addition to his squad given the experiences that he has already encountered in his burgeoning career.
“Devante typifies the type of young player that I want to attract to the club,” Miller said. “His commitment to the Jets is for two seasons, and that is significant as his aim is to become an important part of the club in the near future.”
Clut, who will link with his new teammates when the Jets’ squad assembles for pre-season training in late June, said that he’s excited to be making the move to the Hunter after some enjoyable times as a Roar player.
“When I first heard from Newcastle I was excited because I feel that the Jets are a club that is getting better and will continue to get better,” Clut explained. “I’m really excited to meet Scott [Miller] in person, the coaches, staff, and my new teammates, and get to work at the club.”
“Roar was my first ever professional club and I have a lot of good memories with the fans in Brisbane. But now it is time for me to learn and develop at the Jets, and aim to play and perform for the fans of Newcastle.”
Jets fans can look forward to watching a player eager to control the game and light up Hunter Stadium with instinctive attacking play.
“I have a lot of room for improvement as a professional player, but my style of football is not to kick the ball long, but to control the game and play as big a role as I can in the action of each match,” Clut added. “I like to pull the strings.”
