Melbourne City FC announced on Thursday the signing of Socceroo striker Josh Kennedy as the club’s Australian marquee on a two-year deal.
Kennedy will join the squad in January following the completion of his contract with J-League side Nagoya Grampus, and is likely to make his A-League debut following the Asian Cup.
The 32-year-old had been touted as the replacement for Spaniard David Villa who departed the club four games into an original ten-match guest stint.
“After a very long period abroad, the timing is right to join Melbourne City and I’m very excited about this project,” Kennedy said.
“It’s a new chapter in my career, but my goal will be the same – to help my club achieve all of its aspirations. I believe Melbourne City has huge potential.”
The striker joins Melbourne following a successful stint abroad, claiming the J-League title in 2010 along with the competition’s golden boot the following year.
Born in Wodonga, Victoria, the beanpole striker spent nine years in Germany, including spells at Bundesliga clubs Vfl Wolfsburg and FC Nurnberg, before moving to Japan in 2009.
A stalwart of the Socceroos 2006 and 2010 World Cup campaigns, Kennedy has featured 33 times at international level, scoring 17 goals.
Despite earning selection in Ange Postecoglou’s 2014 World Cup squad, Kennedy was an early omission, suffering the consequences of a back injury.
The cult figure earned hero status on the road to Brazil, sealing qualification to tournament via an 83rd minute winner against Iraq.
Melbourne City FC coach John van’t Schip was delighted to sign the prolific striker.
“Josh is a wonderful addition to our squad. He is the right person and the right player for Melbourne City FC and we look forward to him joining us in January,” van’t Schip said.
“Josh’s record shows that he is a proven goal scorer and with the high quality of players around him, we are confident that he can create significant problems for defences in the A-League.”