Sydney FC have secured the signature of highly experienced DR Congo international Marcel Tisserand, with the central defender joining the Sky Blues on a two-year contract.
The 32-year-old arrives in Sydney with an exceptional résumé, having competed in some of football’s most prestigious competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, as well as African Cup Of Nations.
Most recently, Tisserand has been playing in the Saudi Pro League, where he was part of the Al-Ettifaq FC squad coached by England and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
His teammates included England international Jordan Henderson, Dutch star Georginio Wijnaldum and France’s Moussa Dembélé, and he faced off against global superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino, Riyad Mahrez and Rúben Neves.
A graduate of France’s famous INF Clairefontaine Academy, Tisserand began his professional career with AS Monaco before making his mark in Ligue 1 with Toulouse.
The Bundesliga followed with FC Ingolstadt and VfL Wolfsburg, before a spell at Turkish giants Fenerbahçe saw him regularly feature in European competitions against the continent’s top clubs.
On the international stage, Tisserand has earned over 36 caps for DR Congo since making his debut in 2016, including appearances at multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and also captaining the side.
Sydney FC Head Coach Ufuk Talay says Tisserand’s experience will be invaluable.
“Marcel is a top-quality defender who has played at the highest level across Europe, the Middle East and internationally.
“His experience in the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and AFCON means he understands what it takes to perform in big games, and he has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best players in the world.
“He will bring leadership, composure and tactical awareness to our squad, and I’m confident he will make a big impact.”
Tisserand says he is excited about the move and ready to contribute.
“I’m very happy to be joining Sydney FC, a club with great ambition and a winning mentality,” he said.
“Playing alongside and against world-class players has been a great experience in Saudi and in Europe, and I’m looking forward to using my knowledge to help Sydney FC win trophies.
“I’m sure I can be a leader on the pitch, and I’m excited to try a new league, build a new chapter in my career and play in front of some wonderful Members and supporters who I hope to impress.”
Tisserand is in Sydney already and has linked up with his new teammates.
