Socceroos winger and World Cup hopeful Craig Goodwin makes permanent move to Adelaide United

Having spent the past two seasons on loan to Adelaide United, Craig Goodwin has made the move permanent.

Craig Goodwin is targeting A-League glory with Adelaide United and a spot in the Socceroos’ World Cup squad after making a permanent switch to the Reds.

The winger, who has spent the past two seasons with his hometown club on loan from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Wehda, has signed a three-year deal the Reds.

“There definitely were opportunities in Australia and abroad but for me; family-wise it was a good option to be here in our home city,” Goodwin said.

“Football-wise as well, with Adelaide United I’ve probably played some of the best football of my career, and for me now it’s about being settled both away from the pitch and on the pitch.

“We have a chance to really build something special with the group we have and hopefully we can do that over the course of the next season and beyond.”

Goodwin tasted A-League championship success with the Reds in 2016 before leaving to join Dutch outfit Sparta Rotterdam.

He later returned to Adelaide for a season before again departing, this time for Saudi Arabia, where he found it tough to settle.

Craig Goodwin celebrates his Adelaide United three-year deal with Reds coach Carl Veart. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“For me, it’s about the happiness of life; being here in Adelaide is good for our family, but on the pitch I’m at my happiest as well,” Goodwin said.

And that’s important in a World Cup year, with Goodwin desperate to be part of coach Graham Arnold’s Socceroos squad at Qatar 2022, which kicks off in November.

“With ‘Arnie’, he’s always made it clear that it’s the game time that’s important and the level that you’re playing at,” said Goodwin, who was a member of Australia’s successful World Cup playoffs squad in June.

“If you are playing in Europe and playing in one of the top leagues in the world, that’s great, and it gives you an advantage, so long as you are playing and performing at a good level.

“I feel I’ve been at a good level of football over the last few seasons and performing well and (I was) happy and proud to help the country make the World Cup.

“Now it starts again. You have to earn selection for the (Socceroos) squad coming up.

“If I start the season slow or don’t do as well, then I’m not going to make that World Cup squad, so that’s my focus – really do well with Adelaide, perform, get myself as fit as possible in this pre-season and come out of the blocks running.”

Reds coach Carl Veart said Goodwin’s “quality and pedigree” would continue to be “paramount” for the Adelaide side.

“We’re thrilled to have been able to keep him in Adelaide for another three seasons,” Veart said.

“After the improvements we made last season, 2022-23 is promising to be another positive and competitive year, and I know the entire team is ready to hit the ground running.”

Originally published as Socceroos winger and World Cup hopeful Craig Goodwin makes permanent move to Adelaide United