Perth Glory is delighted to announce that Welsh international forward Tom Lawrence has signed a one-year deal with the club (subject to international clearance).
Now 31, Lawrence began his career at Manchester United before going on to make more than 400 appearances for a number of prominent UK clubs, including Leicester City, Rangers, Ipswich Town, Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers and Derby County, scoring 78 goals in the process.
At international level, meanwhile, after winning U17, U19 and U21 caps for Wales, he made his senior debut in 2015 and has accumulated a total of 23 appearances and three goals to date.
During his most recent spell with Rangers, he scored twice in the Europa League and was part of the squad which reached four Scottish FA Cup and League Cup Finals.
Lawrence is now excited to be opening a new chapter in his career and playing outside the UK for the first time.
“I had a call with [Glory Football Director] Stan Lazaridis and the Manager [David Zdrilic] and just listened to their passion for the club and where they want to go,” he said.
“That’s really what settled it in the end.
“I also spoke with [Glory defender] Scott Wootton and he was very complimentary about the club and Perth as a city.
“He basically said just get here as soon as you can, you’ll love it.
“I’ve been training every day with a guy back home in the UK and I feel like I’m in good shape.
“My body feels good, so I don’t think it’ll take long at all and I’ll be raring to go.
“I’ve come here to score as many goals and contribute as many assists to help the team as I can.
“I want the team to finish as high as possible and go for whatever we can this season.”
Glory Football Director Stan Lazaridis is in no doubt that securing a player of Lawrence’s pedigree represents a significant step forward for the club.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Tom on board,” he said.
“He has been a proven performer at an extremely high level in the UK for more than a decade and is exactly the kind of experienced and versatile forward we need in our squad.
“Tom offers us so much flexibility as he can play out wide, down the middle, or in behind as an attacking midfielder.
“He can score and provide pinpoint delivery with both feet and has also banged in a number of stunning free-kicks over the years.
“We need to take some of the goalscoring burden off Adam Taggart’s shoulders and Tom will do that, as well as helping with the development of our younger attacking players.
“He had been linked to a number of UK and A-League clubs, but after chatting to his former Manchester United teammate Scott Wootton, he wanted to a part of what we’re building here at Glory.
“I’m extremely excited to see Tom in action.”
Lawrence will wear the number 34 shirt this season.
#ONEGlory
Glory sign Welsh international forward Lawrence
