Melbourne City reward Connor Chapman, Jacob Melling, Jack Clisby, Paolo Retre with new deals

MELBOURNE City has extended the contracts of Connor Chapman for three years and Jacob Melling, Jack Clisby and Paulo Retre on two-year deals.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 21: Connor Chapman of Melbourne controls the ball during the FFA Cup Semi Final match between Perth Glory and Melbourne City FC at nib Stadium on October 21, 2015 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

MELBOURNE City has extended the contracts of young quartet Connor Chapman, Jacob Melling, Jack Clisby and Paulo Retre.

Olyroo Chapman, who is currently out with a knee injury, signed a three-year extension while the rest signed fresh two-year deals.

With David Williams set to depart in this transfer window, City has nine more players coming out of contract at season’s end - James Brown, Wade Dekker, Aaron Hughes, Patrick Kisnorbo, Robert Koren, Marc Marino, Stefan Mauk, Jason Trifiro and Michael Zullo.

Chapman established himself as a starting stopper since joining from Newcastle Jets, with injury and glandular fever restricting him to 26 games, while Melling, Retre and Clisby have become important squad players.

Melling, 20, has added energy and combativeness to midfield, while 22-year-old Retre - the son of former NSL striker Carlos Retre - has shuffled between right-back and midfield.

Clisby, 23, joined from Perth Glory a year ago and has plugged a hole at stopper and left-back, racing his way to 22 games.

Connor Chapman gets a thre-year contract extension.

“Connor, Jack, Paulo and Jacob have been an important part of the first team during the past two seasons, and their new deals are evidence of how key they have become to the senior squad,’’ coach John van’t Schip said.

“They are some of the A-League’s emerging young talents and we are delighted with their continued commitment to Melbourne City.”

Originally published as Melbourne City reward Connor Chapman, Jacob Melling, Jack Clisby, Paolo Retre with new deals