Australian outfit Central Coast Mariners have confirmed that Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign their midfielder Anthony Caceres this month.

A product of the A-League side’s academy, the midfielder signed his first professional contract with the club in 2012 and won the league at the end of the 2012/13 season.




He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last year, which saw the midfielder win the 2015 Mariners’ medal, equivalent to the club’s Player of the Year award and attracted the attention of Manchester City.

And the Citizens have agreed a deal to take the Australian midfielder to the Premier League after agreeing a deal to sign him from the Mariners during the January transfer window.
 


A statement on the Mariners’ official website read: “The Central Coast Mariners can today confirm that the Club has agreed to terms with English Premier League Club Manchester City for the transfer of 23-year-old midfielder Anthony Caceres that will take immediate effect.

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“A product of the Mariners Foxtel National Youth league set up, Caceres joins a long list of players to springboard from the Yellow & Navy to the global stage.”

The club’s head coach, Tony Walmsley, is excited to see the player move to Manchester City and stressed the everyone should celebrate the fact that a Mariners’ player is getting the opportunity to play for big club in Europe.

He said: “We need to celebrate when players at the Central Coast Mariners are sold to bigger Clubs. It's our charter. It's our intent.

“When I brought Anthony Caceres to the Mariners his potential was obvious.

“This move demonstrates how far Anthony has progressed and symbolises how giving youth a chance works for both the Central Coast Mariners and young aspirational footballers.”

Caceres made 62 A-League appearances for the Mariners’ and will be now hoping to make a name in European football with Manchester City.

He will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriots such as Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer, who have played and succeeded in the Premier League.