Following the closure of the Isuzu Ute A-League’s transfer window, here’s a wrap-up of Melbourne Victory Men’s activity in the off-season.
Incomings
Seeking to go one better in 2025/26, Victory had a big window ahead to build towards the upcoming season. Bringing a combination of promising young talent to the Club alongside experienced leaders to provide guidance on and off the field, Victory’s first arrivals were announced in June with youthful Aussie duo, Louis D’Arrigo and Keegan Jelacic.
A well-rounded central midfielder who combines impressive technique with work-rate, D’Arrigo was an impressive pick-up for the Club.
Jelacic followed the next day, a proven player in the A-League Men’s who can cover across attacking midfield and either wing, providing excellent versatility and quality to the squad.
In early June, Victory would make their first loan signing of the window, welcoming back Victory Academy graduate Franco Lino for the 2025/26 season.
Sold to Norwegian club FK Viking in early 2024, the 20-year-old left-back was welcomed back to Melbourne in search of first-team minutes.
On July 9, A-Leagues icon Andrew Durante was announced to be joining the Club as an assistant for the upcoming season, certainly not the only eye-catching name that would join Victory’s coaching staff over the break.
The next loanee would be Young Socceroos captain, Sebastian Esposito.
One of the nation’s most promising central defenders, Esposito was brought to the Club on a season-long loan from Serie A outfit Lecce.
Complimenting Esposito’s arrival, the Victory faithful were certainly celebrating the return of left-sided defender Jason Davidson.
A fan-favourite during his 2021/22 season, where he scored the opener aa the team lifted the FFA Cup, ‘Davo’ will undoubtedly provide immeasurable qualities both on and off the pitch.
On August 30, Victory would add five young talents to its roster.
It would begin with a 12-month loan for former Victory Academy player Emre Saglam from Turkey, a technical midfielder, followed by the promotion to the A-League training squad of emerging teenage Jack Mihailidis and Daniel Lazarevski from our Senior NPL team.
Rounding out the quintet of youthful arrivals was 17-year-old central midfielder Oliver Dragicevic and 19-year-old defensive midfielder Xavier Stella, who both joined the Club on long term deals.
Victory would go on to sign four players in the final week on the A-League Men’s transfer window, bringing some real X-factor to the side.
The first of the four would be Denis Genreau, a six-time capped Socceroo who spent several years at Ligue 1 team Toulouse FC and most recently at one-time Spanish giant Deportivo La Coruna.
Returning to his hometown of Melbourne on a three-year contract, the 26-year-old midfielder expressed his desire to hit the ground running at AAMI Park and work his way into the Socceroos’ World Cup squad.
Strengthening Victory’s goalkeeping ranks, 21-year-old goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky was signed for the season to provide competition in-between the sticks.
Matthew Grimaldi was the penultimate arrival, a key player for the U23 Australian national team that can play on other wing or attacking midfield.
Tying up Victory’s business on the deadline, ‘the magician’ Juan Mata’s signing took all the headlines.
With one of the finest careers in world football, including a FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA European Championship trophies, Mata is a highly regarded and technically blessed Spanish attacking midfielder.
Spending the great part of his career lining up for Manchester United, Chelsea, Valencia and the Spanish National Team, Melbourne Victory is Mata’s new home, already expressing his excitement with the move to the nation’s sporting capital.
Outgoings
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2024/25 season, trio Fabian Monge, Alex Menelaou and Christian Siciliano all left the club following the expiration of their contracts, all of which have gone on to sign for NPL clubs in New South Wales and Victoria, respectively.
Following along was the sale of left-back Kasey Bos was next up on June 13, who signed for Bundesliga club 1. FSV Mainz 05.
A Victory Academy graduate who enjoyed a stellar breakout campaign, Bos’ departure to Germany’s top flight certainly displayed the immense talent coming through the Club’s ranks.
The next day saw Daniel Arzani’s departure announced, who was off to Hungarian giants Ferencvárosi TC.
Spending two seasons in navy blue, Victory created a stage for Arzani to prove his immense quality, enabling him to regain his place in the Socceroos and joining a club competing in the UEFA Champions League.
Brought to the Club two seasons prior with very minimal senior football experience, Victory next sale would be Ryan Teague to Belgian Pro League team KV Mechelen, another player who had been elevated to Socceroos status during his stint in navy blue.
On July 10, goalkeeping legend Mitch Langerak would announce his retirement from professional football, but his transition to a coaching role within Victory’s Academy program would simultaneously be revealed – a departure on the field but an arrival off the field.
In early August, Victory would sadly say goodbye to fan-favourite Frenchman Zinédine Machach, who was released from his contract with the Club on compassionate grounds.
Victory’s final departure of the window would be another legendary player transitioning to an off-field role at the Club, this time with Uruguayan striker Bruno Fornaroli calling time on his professional football career.
Re-signings
Early in the window, Victory would lock-in the services of flying Brazilian winger Santos, who signed a two-year extension at Victory on June 18.
Improving consistently as the season progressed, the 24-year-old will certainly be set to make many more highlight-worthy moments at the Club.
To complement the young core being built at Victory, the re-signings of experienced duo Roderick Miranda and Adama Traoré was announced in July; two players who crucially provide immense leadership, both on and off the field.
Also committed to the existing young players at the Club, Victory were pleased to announce the signing of academy duo Kayne Razmovski and Luka Kolić to professional contracts for the 2025/26 season.
At 20 years old, Razmovski’s elevation to the A-League Men’s roster was a special moment after rising through the entire NPL Academy, providing great coverage from across defence into midfield.
Meanwhile, Kolić’s brilliance at the Senior NPL level was rewarded with another season with the first team, capable of producing moments of magic from central midfield.
Wrapping up Victory’s off-season activity, Young Socceroos duo Joshua Inserra and Daniel Graskoski had their contracts extended until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Set to compete in the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile later this month, young defender Joshua Inserra broke into the first-team last season with impressive athleticism and passing ability, while 18-year-old Daniel Graskoski is one of the most promising young goalkeepers in the country.
Analysis from Director of Football, John Didulica
Reflecting on a busy off-season with the various incomings and outgoings, Melbourne Victory Director of Football John Didulica was buoyed by the club’s activity.
“We are really proud that our program was able to set multiple players up for success on the international stage and as a portal into the leading competitions of Europe. That is a great reflection of the work the coaches and support staff are investing into the players.”
“Making successive Grand Finals, and still being able to transfer players into Europe through that, is in line with our core objective – which is sustainable success. We need to challenge for trophies every year, attract and empower the best emerging talent and then re-invest in a program that enables both.”
“That underpinned our approach to this window. We were able to bring in players who we think are on the cusp of international breakouts, add some talent that we can develop over the coming seasons and importantly build a team culture where committing to the highest professional standards is hard-wired into the way the team works every day.”
“Finally, to retain players like Nish going into the season is really important too. Nish understands the expectations of the club and the way the fans expect the team to play and perform and becomes a great conduit for the new players arriving.”
