A-League: Stefan Mauk signing bolsters Brisbane Roar midfield

BRISBANE Roar have signed A-League championship-winning midfielder Stefan Mauk to a four-year deal, their latest scalp in a busy recruiting period.

Stefan Mauk will be swapping his City blue for a Roar strip. Picture: AAP

BRISBANE Roar have signed A-League championship-winning midfielder Stefan Mauk.

Mauk, 22, will start pre-season training with the Roar next week after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with Brisbane.

The Australian under-23 International, who won an A-League title with Adelaide United in 2016, played last season for Melbourne City on loan from Dutch second division outfit NEC Nijmegen.

Roar coach John Aloisi has been a long-time admirer of Mauk, who is set to be a key figure in Brisbane’s midfield next season.

Stefan Mauk will be swapping his City blue for a Roar strip. Picture: Getty Images

The acquisition of Mauk continues a busy recruiting period for the Roar, whose revamped squad will also include other fresh faces in former Perth Glory striker Adam Taggart, Danish winger Tobias Mikkelsen and ex-Western Pride attacker Dylan Wenzel-Halls.

However, former Socceroos defender Ivan Franjic has rejected the Roar’s offer to re-sign him.

A three-time championship winner with the Roar, Franjic returned to the club last November after more than three years away.

Aloisi gave Franjic until Monday to accept the Roar’s offer, but the 2015 Asian Cup winner turned them down.

It’s understood Melbourne product Franjic is keen to again head overseas after previous stints in Russia and South Korea.