Sydney FC boss Steve Corica continues to bolster his Championship-winning squad with Caltex Socceroos defender Ryan McGowan joining the Sky Blues.
The 29-year-old most recently played with Scottish club Dundee on loan from Bradford City, and his signing will add even more spice to next season’s Sydney Derby, with his younger brother Dylan recently joining Western Sydney Wanderers.
And it comes on the back of the Sky Blues picking up former Wanderers playmaker Alexander Baumjohann on Tuesday.
“I’ve heard and seen so much about the Sydney Derbies over the years and I can’t wait to play in one," McGowan told the club website.
“It will be extra special having Dylan play in the game as well.
“I’m also looking forward to getting another taste of AFC Champions League football again and performing well for the club in that.”
McGowan, who can play both on the right and in central defence, is a key recruit for Corica who was in need of defensive reinforcements.
The current Hyundai A-League Champions have lost Aaron Calver to competition new-boys Western United, Jacob Tratt has joined Perth Glory, while Dutchman Jop van der Linden was released and has since retired.
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Impressive youngster Ben Warland is an option alongside Alex Wilkinson in the heart of defence but he will miss the start of the campaign as he recovers from a serious knee injury.
“At 29 Ryan is in the prime of his career and with so many high-level games under his belt, he is a huge asset to us,” said Corica.
“He reads the game well, can play out from the back and is physically very quick and strong.
“He is a great signing who will fit into our vastly experienced defensive line-up with ease.”
McGowan brings quality and experience to the Sydney FC squad, having featured 20 times for the Caltex Socceroos.
He played all three matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and was the man who sent in the looping cross for Tim Cahill’s sensational volley against the Netherlands.
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The well-travelled McGowan has played all around the globe, including with the likes of Hearts, Dundee United and Partick Thistle in Scotland, Shandong Luneng, Guizhou and Henan Jianye in China, UAE’s Al-Sharjah and with Bradford City in England.
