The A-League’s January transfer window has slammed shut, with clubs making their final moves to bolster their squads for the business end of the season. While some teams have strengthened significantly, others have lost key players overseas. We analyze the biggest incoming and outgoing transfers to determine the winners and losers of the window.
High-Profile Departures Open Door for Young Talent
Several of the A-League’s brightest young prospects secured moves abroad in January, fetching their clubs hefty transfer fees in the process. Macarthur FC were the biggest beneficiaries, netting over $1 million combined for Oli Jones (Randers), Jed Drew (TSV Hartberg), and Ariath Piol (Real Salt Lake). While their losses will be felt on the pitch, the fees represent a major coup for the Bulls.
Brisbane Roar also cashed in, with 19-year-old striker Thomas Waddingham joining Championship side Portsmouth for nearly $400k. It’s a prime example of the A-League’s shift towards a developmental model focused on producing and selling young talent.
Controversial Exits Raise Questions
Not all departures went smoothly. Melbourne Victory reportedly received no fee from Gamba Osaka for Socceroo Jason Geria, one of the league’s best defenders, likely due to a release clause. The alternative may have been losing him for free, but it’s still not an ideal outcome for last season’s champions.
It feels like Geria has been around forever — which is what happens when you debut at 17 and become a Socceroo at 19 — but he’s still only 27 and ostensibly in his prime.
– Joey Lynch, ESPN
Defending Champions Reinforce Backline
To fill the Geria-sized hole in defense, Victory have turned to free agents Lachlan Jackson and Jason Davidson. Jackson arrives from Korea with nearly 100 appearances for Suwon FC, while ex-Socceroo Davidson was most recently with Eupen in Belgium. Neither are Geria, but both are solid pick-ups who improve Victory’s depth for a playoff push.
Sky Blues Spend Big, But Was It Enough?
Sydney FC earned a reported $2.5 million from Hayden Matthews’ sale to SM Caen, the third-highest fee ever for an A-League player. It’s a substantial sum, but with an underperforming season and Adrian Segecic failing to fire, questions remain if they’ve adequately replaced their Socceroo defender to turn things around.
The Sky Blues moved quickly to sign veteran Alex Grant, the best Australian free agent available, but one player can only plug so many leaks. Sydney still look shaky at the back and will need a major uplift to contend.
Jets, Roar Bolstered By Foreign Additions
Two struggling sides, Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar, will hope their new foreign stars can provide an instant impact. Japanese winger Kota Mizunuma has already notched two assists in two games for the Jets, while Portuguese forward Asumah Abubakar could be the scoring threat the Roar have sorely missed.
The veteran has quickly shown just how valuable it can be to add one of the best keepers Australia has produced to your ranks.
– Joey Lynch on Mitch Langerak’s Melbourne Victory impact
Wanderers Address Defensive Woes
With the third-worst defense in the league, Western Sydney Wanderers were in desperate need of reinforcements. Enter Alex Gersbach and Joshua Laws. Gersbach, still only 27, arrives from Scandinavia to slot in at left-back, while Laws bolsters the heart of defense. Smart signings, but it may be too little, too late to save their season.
Glory Attempt Squad Overhaul
Sitting in last place, Perth Glory had to act. After getting their international recruiting badly wrong in the offseason, the Glory have moved to cut their losses, axing three visa players already. In their place arrive a mix of local and foreign talent headlined by Croatian defender Tomi Mrčela. The squad has improved, but climbing out of the basement will still be an almighty task.
Final Thoughts
The January window has shaken up the A-League, with the top sides splashing the cash on major sales, while those near the bottom look to new signings for a late-season boost. As the transfer dust settles, the focus turns to the run home, where we’ll see which moves pay off and which prove to be costly misses.
- Big Winners: Macarthur FC, Brisbane Roar, Newcastle Jets
- Question Marks: Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC
- Wait and See: Western Sydney Wanderers, Perth Glory
