Image: Mark Avellino
The Bulleen Lions have bolstered their attacking ranks with the addition of exciting young winger Luke Gallo, who arrives at the club from Melbourne City Youth.
He becomes the second former City Youth player to put pen to paper at the Veneto Club after his former teammate Brad Clarke’s move to Bulleen last month.
A former Lions junior, Gallo earned his senior breakthrough with the Bentleigh Greens in 2014, making a total of nine league appearances under John Anastasiadis.
He also featured in the club’s FFA Cup campaign, where the then 17 year-old teenager made four successive starts as the 2013 VPL Grand Finalists secured a place in the semi-finals of the competition as their fairytale run came to an end following a 3-0 home defeat to the Perth Glory.
From there onwards, Gallo made the move to Bundoora and spent the next two years of his career in the youth side of the A-League outfit under Joe Palatsides and Joe Montemurro.
He scored six league goals in 39 appearances over the course of two NPL2 campaigns, with the latter season seeing the young side finish third behind promoted duo St Albans and North Geelong.
The 19-year-old featured for the Lions in their goalless friendly encounter with the St Albans Saints on Thursday night as Aaron Healey’s men step up preparations for their round one encounter at home against defending Champions South Melbourne next month.
His return to his childhood club in a senior capacity is a timely boost for the Lions, who most recently lost new signing Nathan Liberto after last week accepting a youth contract at Adelaide United.