A-League newcomers Western United are set to unveil former Italy international Alessandro Diamanti as their latest signing.
He will take the squad up to 19 ahead of their debut campaign, and take United's crop of European players to four.
The 36-year-old attacking playmaker almost joined Melbourne Victory three years ago but the club were blocked from signing him as a special guest marquee by the FFA.
He is set to be introduced at a ceremony in Melbourne's Western Suburbs on Thursday.
Diamanti is expected to link up with Greek midfield marquee Pangiotis Kone in Mark Rudan's side.
Kone was the first player signed by the expansion club, in February, and like Diamanti inked a two-year contract.
Diamanti began his career in Italy before having a season-long spell in the Premier League with West Ham in 2009/10 when he scored seven goals in 28 games.
He then went back to his home country to play for Brescia and has since been with the likes of Guzngzhou Evergrande, Fiorentina and Perugia.
Diamanti came off the bench for Italy in their UEFA European Championship semi-final victory in 2012.
Meanwhile, Sydney FC made it two wins from two games in pre-season as they saw off St George 3-0 at Jubilee Stadium.
Adam Le Fondre opened the scoring midway through the first-half, with off-season recruit Kosta Barbarouses doubling the lead just before the break.
Youngster Luke Ivanovic completed the scoring just after the hour-mark with his fourth goal of the pre-season.
Second-half goals from Chris Harold and Joel Chianese steered Perth Glory to a 2-0 win over Perth SC in a pre-season friendly at Dorrien Gardens.
Harold scored soon after the break with a close-range header before Chianese's neat finish doubled the lead nine minutes from time.
Western United are 20/1 to win the 2020 Grand Final.
View all Soccer betting
A-League newcomers Western United are set to unveil former Italy international Alessandro Diamanti as their latest signing.
He will take the squad up to 19 ahead of their debut campaign, and take United's crop of European players to four.
The 36-year-old attacking playmaker almost joined Melbourne Victory three years ago but the club were blocked from signing him as a special guest marquee by the FFA.
He is set to be introduced at a ceremony in Melbourne's Western Suburbs on Thursday.
Diamanti is expected to link up with Greek midfield marquee Pangiotis Kone in Mark Rudan's side.
Kone was the first player signed by the expansion club, in February, and like Diamanti inked a two-year contract.
Diamanti began his career in Italy before having a season-long spell in the Premier League with West Ham in 2009/10 when he scored seven goals in 28 games.
He then went back to his home country to play for Brescia and has since been with the likes of Guzngzhou Evergrande, Fiorentina and Perugia.
Diamanti came off the bench for Italy in their UEFA European Championship semi-final victory in 2012.
Meanwhile, Sydney FC made it two wins from two games in pre-season as they saw off St George 3-0 at Jubilee Stadium.
Adam Le Fondre opened the scoring midway through the first-half, with off-season recruit Kosta Barbarouses doubling the lead just before the break.
Youngster Luke Ivanovic completed the scoring just after the hour-mark with his fourth goal of the pre-season.
Second-half goals from Chris Harold and Joel Chianese steered Perth Glory to a 2-0 win over Perth SC in a pre-season friendly at Dorrien Gardens.
Harold scored soon after the break with a close-range header before Chianese's neat finish doubled the lead nine minutes from time.
Western United are 20/1 to win the 2020 Grand Final.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com