Teenage talents Al Hassan Toure and Louis D’Arrigo sign long-term contracts with Adelaide United
Two of Australia’s hottest young soccer prospects have signed long-term senior contracts with Adelaide United, after making stunning arrivals with their hometown team this A-League season.
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A chance to repay Adelaide United’s faith in giving them a first-team opportunity has convinced two of Australian soccer’s hottest prospects to sign long-term deals with the Reds.
Teenage talents Al Hassan Toure and Louis D’Arrigo on Friday penned their maiden senior contracts with their hometown team, following their stunning A-League arrival this season.
The extensions, which tie the duo to United until the end of the 2022/23 campaign, were inked as a string of overseas-based clubs reportedly track their rapid progress with interest.
“It was my dream to play for Adelaide United since I was a kid,” Toure, 19, said.
“So when I got the (senior contract) offer, it was a bit unreal and a great honour.
“Nowadays a lot more people are talking about me.
“But in my mind, it’s still all about hard work and playing well.
“It doesn’t matter what I’ve done, because in football no one judges the past.
“It’s all what you do now and what you’re going to do in the future.”
Toure, who signed a scholarship deal with the Reds in August, shot to national prominence after his man-of-the-match display in Adelaide’s FFA Cup final thumping of Melbourne City.
His eye-catching form also earned a call-up to represent Australia at under-23 level, 15 years after he fled Guinea with his family in search of a new life. SA-born D’Arrigo has been equally impressive, if slightly less heralded, since slotting in seamlessly to the midfield anchor void left by departed legend Isaias.
“I’m staying with my hometown team which is really good,” said D’Arrigo, who played one A-League game last summer before nailing down a regular berth this term.
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“Big thanks to the club for believing in me and playing me in the first couple of rounds of the season.
“This time last year, I was in a very different position. I was just a player training with the team, not getting in the match-day squad. It was hard, but you’ve just got to be patient and wait for your chance.
“I think Al Hassan and I have taken it.”
D’Arrigo, 18, has demonstrated his tactical maturity and intelligent distribution in eight games in all competitions, missing out only when on Young Socceroos duty.
Despite his slender build and tender years, he has held his own against the likes of Melbourne Victory powerhouse Ola Toivonen and Sydney FC maestro Milos Ninkovic. “It’s a challenge, which I like,” West Torrens Birkalla product D’Arrigo said.
The new contracts will help United protect two of its most-prized assets, given the pair will command transfer fees should overseas clubs come calling in the next three seasons.
But former Croydon Kings flyer Toure was focused on building on Adelaide’s promising, if inconsistent, start to the domestic campaign under Dutch coach Gertjan Verbeek.
“It’s good to have a lot of young kids in the team, so we don’t get led down the wrong tracks,” said Toure, one of 10 aged 23 or under to feature for the Reds this campaign.
“With the older boys and the younger boys, it’s a tight squad and everyone is good so it pushes us every training.
“We never get complacent, because we’re fighting for our spots. You have to play to impress the fans, impress your peers, your coach.
“But I just hope that I continue to show that I’m good enough to play.”