Sky Blues young gun Patrick Yazbek signs with Norwegian club Viking

Norwegian club Viking has signed a second A-League player in the space of two weeks.

Sydney FC’s Patrick Yazbek (front) is heading to Norway. Picture: Minh Hoang/Getty Images

Sydney FC midfielder Patrick Yazbek will join Socceroos pair Nick D’Agostino and Gianni Stensness at Norwegian top-flight outfit Viking FK.

Yazbek, 20, will move to Norway following the Sky Blues’ clash with Brisbane Roar on February 18.

The transfer fee is rumoured to be worth about $750,000, a record amount for a Sky Blues academy graduate.

Yazbek’s switch comes less than less than two weeks after former Melbourne Victory striker D’Agostino moved to the same club, which has also been the home ex-Central Coast Mariners midfielder Stensness since August 2021.

🗣️ "Football for me at an early age was me trying to live out his dream."

Pat Yazbek reveals his journey to the Sydney FC first team in which his love of football came from his father 👨‍👦#SydneyIsSkyBluehttps://t.co/UMxx7ceV8O

— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) December 19, 2022

“Sydney FC is my first professional club and they’ve given me the opportunity to live my dream and go to Europe,” Yazbek said.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling to be leaving and I’ll always cherish the moments I’ve had here.

“I’m appreciative of the club for allowing me to take this opportunity mid-season and hopefully I can repay everything Sydney FC has done for me.

“I look forward to my last couple of weeks in Sky Blue and watching the team go on to great things.”

Sydney coach Steve Corica tipped Yazbek to prosper in Norway.

“Patrick has performed very well over the past 13 months,” Corica said.

“He deserves his chance abroad and I’m sure he’ll continue to improve. He has learned quickly and is one of a number of fantastic young midfielders we have coming through our ranks.

Sydney FC technical director for youth Kelly Cross said Yazbek had set a great example for other young players.

“What Patrick has demonstrated to all young players is to never give up and always believe in yourself,” Cross said.

“As a youngster, Patrick was never considered for junior national teams and he has seen many of his Sydney FC academy teammates move on to A-League contracts or overseas.

“He continued to improve himself and we kept him in the academy because we felt he had so much potential yet to be realised.

“We are so pleased for Patrick that it has all led to this exciting career opportunity for him.”

Originally published as Sky Blues young gun Patrick Yazbek signs with Norwegian club Viking