Perth Glory is delighted to confirm that Osama Malik has signed a three-year deal with the club.
The versatile 28-year-old, who can operate as a central defender, full-back and holding midfielder, has enjoyed previous spells in the Hyundai A-League with Adelaide United, North Queensland Fury and most recently, Melbourne City.
The former Australia Under-20 international added some overseas experience to his resume earlier this year via a spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Batin, but when the opportunity arose to return to Australia and join Glory, he was quick to take it.
“Perth Glory were the benchmark of the competition last year and there is a very talented squad here,” he said.
“For me, Tony Popovic is the best manager in the country and someone that I’ve wanted to work under for a while, so I’m very happy to be here and can’t wait to get started.”
Football Director Jacob Burns revealed that Glory beat off stiff competition from a host of Australian and overseas clubs to secure Malik’s signature and he is confident that the man from Adelaide will prove to be a key acquisition.
“Osama is a player that we have admired and tracked for some time and we are thrilled to now have him on board,” he said.
“He’s a ball-playing defender who can operate anywhere across the backline or in a defensive midfield role and he also brings plenty of experience.
“As well as being a proven performer in the A-League, he also has experience of the Asian Champions League which will prove invaluable when we make our bow in that competition next year.”
Glory CEO Tony Pignata regards Malik’s arrival as a further clear indication of the club’s commitment to building upon last season’s Premiership triumph.
“Osama is another quality addition to the squad which we are confident will compete very effectively at a domestic and continental level in 2019/20.” he said.
“We are working extremely hard to improve in every area and secure sustained success for the club.”
Having played his junior football with Croydon Kings, West Adelaide and Adelaide Raiders, Malik joined Adelaide United in 2008 and made his senior debut in December of that year against Gamba Osaka in the FIFA Club World Cup.
A year later he joined the now-defunct North Queensland Fury and spent two seasons with them ahead of a return to his native Adelaide in 2011.
The 1.85m utility man duly became a first-team mainstay for the Reds, helping them take out the 2013-14 Premiership and claim the 2014 FFA Cup.
Following a 2016 move to Melbourne City, he again became a regular starter and went on to secure another FFA Cup winners’ medal.
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