Socceroo and 2023 Young Australian of the Year Awer Mabil is heading home to the A-Leagues after signing with Melbourne City.
Fresh from playing at the FIFA World Cup with the Socceroos, Mabil has made the call to return to Australia after 11 years playing abroad in Denmark, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in more than 300 games including the UEFA Champions League and Europa League.
The 30-year-old forward with a beaming smile and fast feet has signed a three-year deal with City and will immediately become one of the faces of the A-Leagues.
He joins fellow Socceroos Aziz Behich and Mathew Leckie at City along with a host of promising young talents, although they will have a new goalkeeper after losing Socceroos custodian Patrick Beach to French Ligue 1 club Troyes.
Mabil was also a standard-bearer for the host of young Australian players of African descent who have come from Adelaide, including Nestory Irankunda, Tete Yengi, Mohamed Toure, Musa Toure and Al Hassan Toure.
The 39-time Socceroo came on for the extra time and penalty shootout with Egypt at the World Cup, successfully making his penalty shot during the unsuccessful shootout.
He also created one of the heartwarming moments of the campaign when he stopped respected SBS commentator and journalist David Basheer as he asked a question and praised his commentary of Socceroos matches.
“I grew up watching you,” Mabil said.
“I’m sorry I forgot your question as I was just reflecting. I grew up watching SBS as a kid because it was free TV also. You did the World Game [TV show] and that’s where I saw all my highlights from all over world football. So, thank you, you gave me good memories as a kid.”
Mabil is due to arrive in Melbourne in the next week to join City’s preseason ahead of their season-opener in Auckland on October 17 and the first Melbourne Derby with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on October 24.
“After spending more than a decade playing in Europe, I’m really excited to be coming home to Australia and beginning this new journey with Melbourne City,” Mabil said.
“Following Australian football from afar in recent years, it’s impossible not to be impressed by what Melbourne City has built. The ambition, the standards and the success the club has achieved made this an opportunity I really wanted to be part of.
“I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates, getting to work with Aurelio [Vidmar] and all of the coaching staff, and doing everything I can to help bring more success to the club and our fans.”
City director of football Michael Petrillo praised Mabil’s decision to join City.
“Awer is one of Australia’s most accomplished footballers and we’re incredibly excited to welcome him to Melbourne City,” Petrillo said.
“To attract a player of his calibre is a significant moment for our club and reflects the environment, culture and football program we’ve built over a number of years.
“Awer’s quality on the pitch speaks for itself, but just as importantly he’s an outstanding person who has consistently made a positive impact away from football through his work in the community. He’s exactly the type of person we want representing Melbourne City.
“We’re delighted to have him join the club and look forward to seeing the impact he’ll have both on and off the pitch over the coming years.”
Mabil, who immigrated to South Australia as a 10-year-old after his family fled war-torn Sudan, won the 2023 Young Australian of the Year award for founding non-profit organisation Barefoot to Boots, which aims to help refugees.
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Roy Ward is a sports writer, live blogger and breaking news journalist. He’s been writing for The Age since 2010.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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