NPL NSW signings tracker: Latest player roster movements ahead of 2024 football season
Rockdale Ilinden have had an up-and-down week as a recent signing confirms departure while a former star comes back home. Check out all the signings news ahead of the 2024 season.
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Rockdale Ilinden coach Paul Dee has been hit with a massive blow just over a week out from the new NPL NSW Men’s season.
Star signing Moudi Najjar has been let go to pursue an opportunity in the South Korean third division, but former player Blake Ricciuto has filled the spot, moving back from Indonesia.
NWS Spirit have made some minor tweaks ahead of their second season in the top flight, while St George City FA have stayed true to last year’s solid line-up.
Ahead of the new season we’ve tracked all the signings, call-ups and coups that will shake-up the competition in 2024, and keep up to date with our NPL NSW season preview.
Rockdale Ilinden FC
After narrowly missing out on silverware last season, Rockdale Ilinden coach Paul Dee has stacked his squad to push for the top spot in 2024.
Former Melbourne City and Macarthur FC attacker Moudi Najjar was the marquee signing in the off-season, but the club announced he will now be moving to South Korea to play in their third division for Hwaseong FC.
However Ilinden have made waves with his replacement, with former player Blake Ricciuto to make his return to the club from Singapore Premier League side Tanjong Pagar United FC.
Ricciuto made 66 appearances for the club from 2016-2018 before moving to Singapore in 2019.
Ilinden has also enticed three players away from Marconi Stallions, with brothers Giorgio and Roberto Speranza and forward Mabior Garang confirming a move for 2024.
Young striker Yinka Sunmola will be looking for more consistency with Ilinden, after a mixed season split between Mt Druitt and the Mariners Academy last year while former Wanderers youth player Dean Pelekanos joins the club after a season with St George City.
The resigning of 2023 Player of the Year Alec Urosevski will be a massive boost for the side’s goal tally after he contributed 27 goals and easily clinched the golden boot last season.
Ilinden has stuck with the majority of it’s players from the previous season, with Bai Antoniou, Jason Cakovski, Brendan Cholakian, Daniel Collins, Lochlan Constable, Matthieu Cordier, Isaac Danzo, Harrison Devenish-Meares, Lachlan Griffiths, Ricardo Rizzo, Brayden Sorge, Benjamin Wass, Brae Ovens and Steven Geroski all signing on for another year.
NWS Spirit FC
Spirit coach David Perkovic has tweaked his squad for it’s sophomore season in the NPL.
Headlining his new-look squad is Kiwi international Gianni Bouzoukis, who claimed the 2022 and 2023 golden boot honours in the NZ NPL with Wellington Olympic.
Experienced centre-back Ante Bakmaz has moved across from Sydney United 58 and previously played in various overseas leagues.
Spirit have brought in two up-and-coming players in Titus Macharia, who spent last season in the U18s League One competition with SD Raiders FC, and midfielder Brayden Burr who featured for the Blacktown City U20s team last year.
Experienced centre-back Ante Makmaz has moved across from a season with Sydney United after a lengthy stint overseas while goalkeeper Jack Greenwood signs from Manly after previously playing with the Spirit in 2021.
Coach Perkovic named Richie Darko and Ollie Wiggin as ones to watch this year after impressing last season, with Anthony Younis, Kyle Shaw, Corey Kavanagh, Michael Konestabo, Simon Nicholas, Luiz Lolo, Jarod Lum and goalkeeper Christopher Marques all committing to another season.
St George City FA
St George City had a hugely impressive first season in the NPL last season, securing fifth place
Consequently coach Mirko Jurilj has maintained a similar-looking squad but has added some key signings as the club looks to do even better in 2024.
Returning to the squad is American striker Jason Romero, who featured for St George in League One in 2020 and 2021.
Romero spent the past two years with rivals APIA Leichhardt while also getting an A-League call-up, appearing in five matches for Macarthur FC and scoring a goal.
Japanese import Fumoto Kamada joins from Sutherland Sharks, along with Louis Khoury who spent the off-season with Lebanese Premier League club Nejmeh.
After joining the Wanderers Academy from the Mariners during last year’s transfer window, Joshua Hong has settled with St George for 2024.
23-year-old Cameron Fong joins St George from the Sydney FC Academy, along with Kai Kamikura, who featured mostly in the U20s side, and Brodie Clarkson who was previously with the Northbridge Bulls.
Brothers Maki and Kosta Petratos have signed on for another year after both moving from Heidelberg United in the Victorian NPL in 2023.
Club veteran and captain Tarik Ercan is among those re-signing, along with Presley Ortiz, Matthew Keremelevski, Dominic Cox, Paolo Mitry, Nathan Roberts and goalkeeper Jack Kenny.
Marconi Stallions FC
Despite a solid fourth-place finish in 2023, Marconi Stallions have done some major reshuffling for the upcoming season.
Former Central Coast Mariners Academy captain Cameron Windust has made the move to Marconi after being part of the Mariners’ championship winning season in 2023.
Joining him from the Mariners Academy is 23-year-old James Bayliss, brother of Newcastle Jets midfielder Lachlan Bayliss, and also has ALM experience, featuring in six games for the reigning champions last season.
Regular Academy goal scorer George Daniel has also made the move from the Coast, along with U20s midfielder Dylan Susovic.
Following a successful season in NPL South Australia where he claimed the premiership and golden boot honours, James Temelkovski moves back to NSW with Marconi and is set to be an important part of the side’s attack.
Former Macarthur FC forward Milislav Popovic signed with Marconi after spending some time abroad, most recently with Luxembourg club Victoria Rosport.
Skipper and Marconi junior Marko Jesic is among those returning for the 2024 season, along with Brandon Vella, Nathan Millgate, Liam Youlley, Daniel Bouman and Aleksander Duric.
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic debuted their new-look squad at the inaugural Greed Herald Cup, featuring some familiar faces along with new signings.
Olympic had some positions to fill after three player retirements in 2023, with club legend Will Angel hanging up his boots after over a decade with Olympic, along with former A-Leagues player Fabio Ferreira and Hagi Gligor.
The younger brother of Australian internationals Alou and Garang, Teng Kuol has signed on with Olympic for 2024 after spending last season with the Wanderers’ Academy and the previous two seasons with the Mariners Academy.
Defender George Timotheou returns to Olympic after stints in the A-League Men’s with Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory, and most recently in Capital Football NPL with Gungahlin United.
Goalkeeper Noah James moves to Sydney from Newcastle, where he was the first choice keeper for the Jets’ League Two side and recorded one ALM appearance.
Mariners Academy duo Gianni Di Pizio and Zac Zorcich will be hoping for more first team action with Olympic, after both bouncing between the U20s and first grade Central Coast sides the past couple of seasons.
Following stints in Cyprus and South Africa, Abraham Majok is back in Australia and joins Olympic for 2024 and brings ALM experience with the Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers.
Winger Jaden Casella signed with Olympic from Rockdale Ilinden, where he spent the past two seasons and scoring seven goals last year.
Scoring machine Roy O’Donovan remains with Olympic for another season, along with Peter Politis, Ziggy Gordon, Jack Simmons, Sam McIlhatton, Oliver Puflett, Darcy Burgess, Michael Vakis and William Mutch.
Sydney United 58
Sydney United 58 FC have undergone a major overhaul after finishing a disappointing 10th last season.
Manager Miro Vlastelica has been replaced at the helm by Zeljko Kalac, who previously coached the side in 2020 and has a storied history with the club as a player.
10 departures have been confirmed so far including Devante Clut and veteran Chris Payne.
Goalkeeper Oliver Kalac returns to Australia to join Sydney United after stints with Croatian club NK Jadran Luka and USV Allerheiligen in Austria, while fellow keeper Mathew Nikolovski signs from Blacktown City.
Young midfielder Adam Zervas is making a massive step up to the NPL after featuring for the Newcastle Jets Academy in FNSW League Two.
Former youth international Stephan De Robillard is a new addition to the midfield after starting his professional career with Bulls FC Academy (formerly Northbridge Bulls) in 2021 at just 18-years-old.
Midfielder Matt Hatch has found a new home at Sydney United following a brief stint with Marconi Stallions, where he joined mid-season following his release from ALM team Perth Glory after just one season.
Another player with ALM experience, Liam McGing has signed on for the upcoming season, also moving across from Marconi Stallions where he made 20 appearances in 2023.
Former Sydney United junior Jordan Ivancic returns to the club after a year with Bulls Academy, as does 20-year-old Marco Arambasic.
Young midfielder Aidan Milicevic will be hoping for more consistency this season, after jumping between the U20 and first grade divisions for Central Coast Mariners Academy last year.
Following a year split between St George FC and Mt Druitt, Japanese import Shunta Nakamura is expected to be a regular sight for Sydney United this season.
Former Sydney FC youth player Dejan Bakrdanikoski is back in the NSW NPL after a season with Western United’s academy in Victoria’s NPL2, while Carlos De Oliveira makes the move to Sydney United after years of success with Blacktown City.
Sydney United have held onto their captain Adrian Vlastelica and have also re-signed Patrick Antelmi, Glen Trifiro, Bailey Rule, Anthony Tomelic, Leroy Jennings, Alessandro Lacalandra, Tariq Maia, Christian Gonzalez and goalkeeper Luke Cukar.
Hills United FC
Hills United have made five crucial seasons as they prepare to fight in the state’s top tier football competition, after claiming the FNSW League One premiership in 2023.
Coach Luke Casserly has retained much of last year’s line-up, including former A-League winger Nicolai Müller, Thomas Makko and captain Glen Kelshaw.
A big pick up for Hills is young attacker Thomas Lopez, who moved to the Wanderers in the second half of last season from St George FA.
He accumulated 24 goals across both teams, playing the majority of games in U20s but also making seven first grade appearances.
Japanese import Yu Okubo has moved down under with Hills from Japanese third tier team Gainare Tottori, where he’s been since 2020.
Blacktown City youth product Caleb Jackson-Brown has made the switch to Hills after a solid 2023 season playing mostly first grade, scoring 6 goals in 27 matches.
Daniel Petkovski is back in the NPL after nine years at Rockdale Ilinden, which abruptly ended at the beginning of last season, only playing two matches before mutually agreeing to end his tenure at Ilinden.
Following his switch from Bulls FC Academy to the Wanderers Academy mid-way through last season, midfielder Sunday Yona has now signed with Hills for 2024.
Talented young goalkeeper Will Loucas will be looking for more first grade appearances this year, after jumping between the Wanderers’ U18, U20 and first grade sides last season.
Defender Mark Rodic will be hoping for more consistency with Hills, after moving from team to team through the past few years including Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Marconi Stallions and Sutherland Sharks.
Viral Mt Druitt star Anthony Fragie will be staying in the top tier with Hills following a mixed 2023 season, scoring 5 goals in 23 matches and shown two red cards.
Wollongong Wolves FC
All eyes will be on Wollongong this season as they prepare to enter the National Second Tier in 2024, along with fellow NSW teams APIA Leichhardt, Sydney Olympic, Marconi Stallions and Sydney United 58.
Former Australian youth defender Dylan Ryan will be returning to the club he started his football career with, moving back to Wollongong following two seasons in the Netherlands with FC Den Bosch.
Wolves veteran Darcy Madden has re-joined the side he won the 2019 championship with, following a year in the Queensland NPL with Peninsula Power.
Captain Lachlan Scott is back for his sixth season with the Wolves and is likely to be the top scorer once again, netting 13 goals in the 2023 season.
Young left-back Walter Scott impressed during his first season with the club, signing on for another season after leaving APIA Leichhardt at the end of 2022.
The Wolves have also re-signed Japanese internationals Takumi Ofuka and Banri Kanaizumi, with the former having contributed 10 goals last season.
Samuel Riak and former Rockdale Ilinden forward Alex Masciovecchio have confirmed another year in Wollongong after a solid first year in 2023, along with young centre-back Harrison Buesnel.
Club junior Damon Gray has also been given a first grade contract, after pulling triple duty last year in the U18, U20 and first grade divisions.
Blacktown City FC
Blacktown City have made minimal changes to their squad ahead of the new season, retaining the bulk of its 2023 line-up.
The loss of Carlos De Oliveira will leave a massive hole in the team, but coach Mark Crittenden has recruited well to fill it.
Striker Joey Gibbs is back with City after leaving for Iceland in 2020, where he played 62 games for Keflavik, scoring 46 goals, as well as Stjarnan.
After retiring from football at the beginning of the 2023 season due to numerous injuries, attacker Mitchell Mallia has dusted off his boots to make a return for City.
Left-back Jayden Trenkoski joins from the Sydney FC youth side, where he only made six appearances across last season, while former Marconi Stallion Martin Fernandez will likely add some strong attacking prowess.
Filipino midfielder Jacob Maniti has returned to Australia and to the state of his birth to Blacktown City, and he also previously featured for Northbridge Bulls’ (now Bulls FC Academy) U20 side during the 2022 season.
Young gun Julian Rodriguez has been called up to the first grade side after spending the bulk of last season with the League One U18 team, also making appearances in the U20s.
Abbas Karnib has also been promoted from the U20s team, though he did make seven appearances in the top tier throughout 2023.
Last season’s top goal scorer Jak O’Brien is among the 14 players returning for the upcoming season, alongside Reuben Awaritefe, Adam Berry, Ben Berry, Tyren Burnie, Lachlan Campbell, Danny Choi, Cayden Henderson, Grant Lynch, Travis Major, Tristan Prendergast, Nicholas O’Brien and Mario Shabow.
APIA Leichhardt FC
After a dominant premiership-winning season in 2023, coach Franco Parisi and assistant David D’Apuzzo have looked to invest in some key young footballers along with their experienced players for the upcoming season.
Set-piece specialist Seiya Kambayashi has made the move from Manly in the off-season and brings plenty of promise to the inner-west.
Former Mount Druitt youngster Jared Macerola has jumped ship from the relegated Town Rangers side to join APIA in 2024, while central midfielder Nick Sullivan moves over from his two-season stint with Sutherland.
Goal scoring machines Jack Armson and Jack Stewart will remain with the club for another season, after each scoring 14 goals throughout 2023 on route to the premiership.
Central Coast Mariners Academy keeper Alexander Parkes has signed his first NPL1 contract with APIA after gaining crucial experience with the A-League Men’s squad, while former Mariners U23 midfielder Jordan Segreto has confirmed his move to Lambert Park.
Up-and-coming local talent Sebastian Boffa has been rewarded for his solid work in the U20s team with a first-grade contract and will be an exciting talent to watch in 2024.
A big boost for the premiers will be the return of midfielder Nick Azzone, who’s time playing in Norway was cut short due to an injury.
APIA has also retained many of it’s stalwart players ahead of it’s premiership defence, with Anthony Bouzanis, Paul Galimi, Josh Symons, Sean Symons, Anthony Sparacino, Rory Jordan, Themba Muata-Marlow, Adrian Ucchino, Dakota Askew, Alex Denmead and Michael Kouta all returning for 2024.
Manly United FC
Manly United coach Patrick Zwaanswijk has made only slight changes from the squad that finished a disappointing eighth in 2023, with five players leaving the club including Japanese import Seiya Kambayashi to APIA as well as the retiring Matthew Sim.
Former youth international Peter Kekeris has will head to Cromer Park for 2024 after previous stints in the NPL NSW with Sydney Olympic, APIA Leichhardt, Rockdale Ilinden and NWS Spirit and a small run in the A-League Men’s with the Mariners in 2018.
Defender Zac Sfiligoi is another new face for Manly, joining the team after a successful NSW League One campaign with the Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC.
Former Manly midfielder Joe Fox is set to return for the upcoming season after recently lining up for Northern Tigers.
With only three confirmed new signings, along with the promotion of Saxon Hillyer from the U20’s squad, there is still room for some more announcements ahead of the new season in February.
The club have retained the services of Alen Aganovic, Bilal Belkadi, Tom Fay, Finn Ashton, Levi Kaye, Ben Koop, Max Martinello, Kieren Paull, Jesse Piriz, Connor Rose, Stefan Visscher and last year’s joint top scorer Harry McCarthy for the new season.
St George FC
St George FC will have a tough season ahead of them as they rejoin the state’s top-flight football competition for the first time since 2014.
Coach Jané Talcevski has signed four new recruits so far in Nikola Skataric, Peter Grozos, Caio De Godoy, George Daniel and Thomas Brown.
Striker Skataric has signed on from Mount Druitt Town Rangers, the team St George defeated to secure their promotion to the NPL.
Meanwhile former youth international De Godoy moves to NSW from Victoria, where he was a defender for NPL Victoria side Green Gully.
Promising young talent Grozos joins the newly promoted team after a season with Bulls FC Academy and stints with the Western Sydney Wanderers and Newcastle Jets academy sides.
Skipper Troy Danaskos is among the returning players from last season, along with Daniel Axford, Sebastian Cerecedo, Andrew Di Blasio, Mitch Heapy, Harry Jones, Nicholas Kalogerou, Alexander Malfara, Alexander Morabito, Anthony Morabito, Patrick O’Shea, Jayden Seeto, Jessie Spang, Luke Vlastelica and Conor Quilligan.
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