Signing News: Three young guns commit to Victory

Melbourne Victory announced it has signed three of its most promising youngsters in Josh Hope, Birkan Kirdar and Nicholas Sette.

With five A-League substitute appearances already to his name, Tasmania-born Hope has signed a 12-month extension after making his first competitive starts for the club in the 2018 AFC Champions League.

“Josh has done well whenever he’s been called upon and I’m looking forward to watching him take that next step in his professional career,” said Head Coach Kevin Muscat.

Kirdar, 16, originally joined the club as a 14-year-old schoolboy and wasted no time showing why he’s regarded as one of Victoria’s best young talents with a series of impressive displays, playing as a number 10, in the NPL and National Youth League competitions. This deal will keep him at the club until the end of the 2019/20 season.

18 year-old winger, Sette, has spent the past two seasons as part of the club’s junior set-up, training with the first team on numerous occasions last campaign and impressing enough to be rewarded with a one-year senior contract.

“Josh, Birkan and Nick are at slightly different stages of their development but we’re excited by the prospect of all three growing into really valuable members of the senior squad.

“The onus is now on those boys to put their heads down, work hard and take their chance when it comes,” added Muscat.

All three players, along with the rest of the senior squad, will report for pre-season training the week commencing July 9.