As the Sky Blues players return to training this week with three or four new and returning faces we thought it good timing to sit down with our Head of Player Management Alex Baumjohann to discuss our transfer and recruitment plans and where everything sits.
How does your role fit into Sydney FC’s recruitment?
Recruitment is a major part of my role. I work alongside the Head Coaches to understand their needs and then leverage my global network to identify targets with the primary focus on building a competitive squad that aligns with our strategy of striving to win every possible trophy while also being a sustainable football club, reinforcing our position as the most successful club in Australia.
TRANSFER NEWS: Star Young Socceroo Rhys Youlley Signs.
What is the current transfer strategy?
Our transfer strategy is built around three key pillars: identifying high-potential young players, securing experienced leaders who align with our playing philosophy, and ensuring financial sustainability across the squad. The goal is to assemble a team capable of competing for every trophy, while also creating a clear development pathway for our young players.
In the Men’s team, we are focused on building a squad that includes five quality overseas players, complemented by experienced and highly talented Australian players, while leaving space for our most talented Academy prospects to progress. This structure supports our attractive, pro-active style of play and reflects the identity we want Sydney FC to represent.
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The aim is to strike a balance between short-term success and long-term sustainability. By giving young players opportunities to either become first-team regulars or move to overseas clubs for a transfer fee, we create a cycle where those funds can be reinvested into our youth system, allowing it to grow exponentially. This strategy has taken time to implement, but we are now in a strong position to fully execute it.
In the Women’s team, the approach is similar. We are working to re-sign key senior players from recent seasons, while also promoting talent from our Female Development Squad. As the global women’s transfer market continues to grow, we want to position ourselves as a club that not only competes for silverware, but also provides a clear pathway for young female players to reach the international stage.
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How much more work do we need to do in the transfer market?
Currently, we have 26 players in the Men’s squad and 18 in the Women’s squad. The signing of Rhys Youlley, one of the most highly rated Young Socceroos, is a valuable addition to our midfield, while the contract extension of Alex Grant was a key priority and brings significant quality and experience to our defence. We’ve also secured the signing of Akol Akon, who just turned 16 last month and is an exciting prospect for the future of our club.
Patrick Wood and Matthew Scarcella have returned from their loan spells and are now back in training with the Men’s team.
Following the departure of Anas Ouahim, we now have two available foreign player spots, which we intend to fill with an attacker and a defender. We are also well advanced in negotiations with several overseas-based Australian players, and our aim is to finalise at least three or four more signings ahead of our Australia Cup Round of 32 clash against Western United. These additions will further strengthen the squad, inject fresh energy, and foster strong competition for places in the starting lineup.
On the Women’s side, we are in discussions with players such as Tori Tumeth and Mackenzie Hawkesby and we hope to announce positive news soon. We’ve already re-signed a number of promising young talents, including Caley Tallon-Henniker, Amber Luchmeijer, and Rubi Sullivan, and we’ll be promoting several players from our Female Development Squad in the near future.
We are also exploring overseas options to strengthen key areas in the Women’s team, including the goalkeeping position, in addition to four further international signings. With the Women’s team returning in September, we still have time to make the necessary additions.
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How are the potential changes to the salary cap and reduced central distribution affecting things?
The potential changes to the salary cap, combined with the significant reduction in central distributions from the APL, have significantly impacted club budgets across the A-Leagues. However, at Sydney FC, we shifted our strategy well in advance. Our approach isn’t a reaction to the league’s financial landscape, it’s a deliberate decision to operate smarter and more sustainably.
We’re committed to building a balanced squad through long-term planning rather than responding to short-term financial pressures. This was not something we were forced into, it was a proactive move to future-proof the club and ensure long-term stability and consistency.
That said, it’s important to acknowledge that several A-League clubs are currently spending significantly more within their player budgets. While that is their strategic choice, we remain focused on building success through a model that is both competitive and financially responsible.
TRANSFER NEWS: Experienced Defender Alex Grant Re-signs
What about the recent departures?
From the Men’s team, Anas Ouahim requested to continue his career closer to Europe for personal reasons, and we respected his decision. Adrian Segecic was offered a new contract but ultimately chose to return overseas—a move that is both logical and positive for his career at this stage. We were able to negotiate a high training compensation fee for Adrian, which reflects our strategy, the quality of his development, and the value we have built through our Academy.
In the past two years, we have now generated more than five million Australian dollars from the transfers of four players—Patrick Yazbek, Jake Girdwood-Reich, Hayden Matthews, and Adrian Segecic—all of whom have been part of our Academy since the Under-13 age group. This is a strong validation of our development model and long-term vision.
In Anthony Caceres’ case, we made a strong effort to retain him, but we were not willing to stretch our budget for one individual at the risk of compromising the balance and depth of the overall squad.
All other departures were part of our planning process and involved players whose contracts had expired and for whom we made the decision not to offer extensions.
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Are the departures now finished?
At the moment, our full focus is on bringing players into the club. However, with the transfer window open until mid-September, there is still the possibility of further departures, whether through loans or permanent transfers.
What sort of balance are we looking at in the squad between youth and experience?
Finding the right balance is key when structuring a squad. Our two main objectives are developing young players and winning trophies, and to achieve both, that balance must be carefully managed. We know that success isn’t possible with only young players, and it’s equally important to have experienced professionals who can lead the team and support younger players both on and off the pitch.
When I started in my role two years ago, the average age of the squad was over 29, and many of our most talented Academy players were not getting opportunities in the first team. As a result, several moved on to other A-League clubs to continue their careers. We made a conscious decision to change that.
Today, the average age of our Men’s squad is below 23, with nearly 65% of the squad made up of players developed through our own Academy and we are extremely proud of that.
Once our recruitment is finalised, the squad will be well balanced across all key areas: age, potential, and financial structure. Given the absence of a domestic transfer system and the number of players previously on ongoing contracts, this process has taken two years to achieve.
