Sydney FC is a step closer to completing its playing roster for the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League season with the club confirming it has signed Championship-winning central defender, Sebastian Ryall.

Sydney FC is a step closer to completing its playing roster for the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League season with the club confirming it has signed Championship-winning central defender, Sebastian Ryall.

The 20-year-old Qantas Young Socceroo from Sydney-s North Shore will bolster the Sky Blues- defensive stocks and has signed on for the next two seasons after a successful stint with the Melbourne Victory.

“I-m very grateful for the opportunity Melbourne gave me but I-ve always wanted to play for my home town, so I-m very happy to be back,” he said. “I must confess when I was younger I used to go and watch (Sydney) and I was even in the Cove when they won the Grand Final against the Central Coast, so I was a fan before I went to Melbourne and it-s exciting to be part of the team.”

Ryall-s recruitment adds to the already deep pool of young talent at Sydney FC, and the Australian Institute of Sport graduate is looking forward to a successful season under incoming coach, Vitezslav Lavicka.

“I can-t wait for the start of training,” explained Ryall. “We have a good squad with a mix of youth and experience, a new coach and the club is working hard to create a winning culture so I-m sure we-ll have a good year.”

Following Ryall-s signing and the recent recruitment of Slovak international, Karol Kisel Sydney FC has a maximum of three places remaining in its senior squad.

The club will begin preparations for the coming campaign when it starts pre-season training on April 27.