Image: Mark Avellino
St Albans have made former Melbourne City winger Hernan Espindola their second off-season signing as the Saints intensify preparations for their first top-flight campaign since 2011.
The 22 year-old moves to Churchill Reserve after a frustrating season with Hume City where he scored once in 14 appearances.
Born in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, Espindola moved to Australia during his childhood and immediately showed an interest in football.
He progressed through the state elite set up before moving to Canberra in 2010 after earning an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship.
The then-teenager represented the Joeys at the 2011 Under 17 FIFA Would Cup in Mexico with Australia exiting the competition in the Round of 16 following a 4-0 loss to Uzbekistan.
Espindola spent the next two years with Melbourne Victory Youth before making his senior debut in 2013 with Pascoe Vale in the VPL, scoring once in 11 league appearances.
A move to Melbourne City Youth followed while also spending 2014 playing his league football in Shepparton with the Goulburn Valley Suns, totalling 21 appearances for the new outfit.
After an impressive season in NPL2 with Melbourne City Youth, Espindola was promoted to the senior team on a short-term injury replacement contract.
He made his A-League debut for City in a 1-1 opening round draw away to Sydney before making a further three appearances for John van’t Schip’s men.
Upon the completion of his contract, Espindola moved back to the Victorian top flight by securing a move to ABD Stadium and joining Hume.
He scored on his debut for the club in a 3-0 win over Richmond but struggled to assert his place in the starting eleven in the second half of the season with injuries also taking their toll.
Espindola cited the chance to work with Saints boss Kruni Razov and Dinamo’s supporter base as two of the motivating factors behind his move to Fox Street.
“I heard a lot of good things about him [Razov] and I like the direction he wants to take the team,” Espindola said via press release.
“Yes it [the fan base] did play a factor. A loyal fan base always makes it more enjoyable to step onto the pitch” he added.
The midfielder joins 2015 NPL Goalkeeper of the Year Chris May as new arrivals at the club who will look to survive their first season back in the top tier after a six year absence.