Perth Glory have taken steps to strengthen their midfield by securing the services of breakout midfielder and reigning young player of the season Gio De Abreu on a two-year contract.
The 19-year-old began last season on a scholarship deal, but after a series of impressive performances, the club has rewarded him with an upgrade to a senior contract that runs until 2028.
De Abreu made his debut against Adelaide United in round nine, going on to feature in the next 16 consecutive matches and starting the final 12 games of the season. His clever passing, defensive work rate, and willingness to engage in robust challenges quickly made him a fan favourite.
The Australian under-17 and under-20 international also claimed the club's DT38 young player of the season award at last month's annual presentation night.
De Abreu first joined the Glory academy while still in primary school and spent two years in Germany with Bayern Munich's World Squad, a development program designed for international under-19 players.
His new contract also protects Perth from losing the rising star, fan favourite, and academy graduate to an overseas club for minimal compensation. The club previously saw De Abreu's predecessors as young player of the year, Daniel Bennie and Jaylan Pearman, move to Championship side Queens Park Rangers on free transfers.
In those cases, Perth received only a training compensation fee for developing the players, rather than a more substantial transfer fee, because both were on scholarship deals when QPR signed them.
With De Abreu's return, Perth now have a wealth of options in midfield for the upcoming season. Will Freney is contracted until 2027, while veterans Callum Timmins and Brandon O'Neill are signed through to 2028. However, the club has not ruled out seeking further competition in the middle of the park.
Glory football director Stan Lazaridis expressed his admiration for how De Abreu has adapted to the demands of senior football.
"Gio has looked very comfortable at ALM level ever since making his debut," Lazaridis said. "He has been a standout performer in what is a vital role which carries a lot of responsibility, showing great maturity and a fantastic attitude and work ethic."
"We have already seen glimpses of Gio's huge potential and are really looking forward to watching him continue to develop as a player over the next two seasons."
"As a club, we are committed to providing a clear pathway for young WA players to represent their home-state club and Gio is yet another example of that commitment being fulfilled."
