Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that Trent Ostler and Mitch Oxborrow have both re-signed with the club.
20-year-old Ostler has put pen to paper on a two-year scholarship, while Oxborrow has inked a one-year contract.
Having spent more than a decade progressing through the PGFC Academy system, attacking midfielder Ostler made his ISUZU UTE A-League debut against Newcastle Jets in March, marked his second appearance with a superb maiden senior goal and ended the season having featured on five occasions.
Midfielder Oxborrow, meanwhile, returned for a second spell at Glory ahead of last season and duly made 12 starts to take his tally of appearances in purple to 40.
Both players are thrilled to be on board once again ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
“I’m buzzing to have re-signed for the next two years,” said Ostler.
“Being able to continue to represent my hometown club, who I watched and supported as a kid, is something special.
“Last season was a tough and hectic schedule, but I got a taste of what A-League football is like and now I’m looking to work hard, earn more minutes and be part of getting this club back to where it deserves to be.
“The club has supported me through my tough times with injury, so I look forward to repaying the faith they have shown in me.”
“I’m extremely happy to have re-signed for the club and am excited to play in purple again,” said Oxborrow.
“After speaking to [Head Coach] Ruben [Zadkovich], I can’t wait to get going again and work under him and the rest of the coaching staff.
“It’s really exciting times at Glory and I’m proud to be a part of it.
“Last season was frustrating for me personally with injuries, to be honest, but hopefully that’s all in the past and I can look forward to an exciting season in 2022/23.”
Zadkovich feels that both players have a huge amount to offer the club going forward.
“Trent is another home-grown young gun who has battled through some very significant injury issues over the last couple of years,” he said.
“The way he has handled himself during that time, along with his positive performances at the back end of last year in trying circumstances, really highlighted his ability to embrace the hardships that the game can throw up.
“The sky is the limit for Trent in my eyes and I’m looking forward to really pushing him to fulfil that potential.
“Mitch is a player I’ve known for a very long time.
“I was his captain when he came to Newcastle as a very young kid thrown into the deep end of professional football away from his family and hometown.
“I’ve also coached him at NPL level where he was the player of the competition and extremely dominant.
“He has been through many highs and lows, which I’ve witnessed first-hand and that perspective will put him in good stead moving forward.
“His football brain and passing range is exceptional and my belief in him is unwavering.
“He understands my processes and my philosophy and now it’s time for him to fulfil his potential and let his football really shine for his hometown club.”
Glory Head of Recruitment, Andy Keogh, is also thrilled that Ostler and Oxborrow are staying on board.
“It’s fantastic to see our homegrown players committed to our famous club,” he said.
“Both players could play a pivotal role in the team and the sky is the limit, especially for Trent Ostler given his younger age .
“We can’t wait to see them back in training on day one.”
Having joined the PGFC Academy at the age of eight, Ostler made his first senior appearance for the club in a 2019 FFA Cup clash with Western Sydney Wanderers.
In the same year, he represented Australia at the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and after a challenging time with injuries, returned to competitive action for the PGFC Academy First Team and then forced his way back into the senior squad in 2021/22.
27-year-old Oxborrow is a former Australia Under-17 and Under-20 representative who spent the first two years of his professional career with Newcastle Jets before joining Glory in 2014.
Over the next three seasons, he made 26 appearances and bagged his first A-League goal with a stunning strike against Western Sydney Wanderers in December 2016.
After subsequent stints with Brisbane Roar, Broadmeadow Magic, Lambton Jaffas and Gwelup Croatia, he returned to Glory last season.
Further signing announcements will be made shortly.
#OneGlory
