Melbourne City have agreed to mutually terminate midfielder Nick Kalmar’s contract in order for him to join the Western Sydney Wanderers on a short-term deal.
The foundation player leaves the club with 69 league appearances and 6 goals to his name as well as being the first player to score for the rebranded Melbourne City in a competitive fixture when he slotted home against Sydney FC in a 3-1 FFA Cup Round of 32 defeat in Ballarat.
That game in August would prove to be his last match for the club as he sustained an injury soon afterwards which forced him to miss the early stages of the A-League season.
Upon returning from injury, Kalmar found himself surplus to requirements in an already competitive City midfield which was strengthened with the short-term signing of former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Liam Miller as an injury-replacement.
In late November, City manager John van’t Schip went on record and stating that Kalmar had no future at the club, but stressed that the popular Kalmar would be helped in finding a new club by City management.
Upon his departure on Friday morning, van’t Schip stated “Nick has been a fine servant of this Club and a superb clubman since he joined as an inaugural player,”.
He went on to add: “We wish Nick all the best in the next chapter in his career.”
Kalmar joins the Wanderers as an injury replacement for Brendon Santalab, who is out indefinitely due to a shoulder injury sustained in the Asian Champions League (ACL) final.
His initial injury replacement, Blacktown City midfielder Kearyn Baccus suffered a training ground injury during the week prompting the club to go into the market and eventually sign Kalmar on board.
He will be a part of the club’s A-League squad until Santalab returns from injury and will be available for their ACL defence when the defending champions take on Kashima Antlers on February 25.
Plucked from the Oakleigh Cannons in the VPL in 2010, Kalmar went on to become one of the side’s best players in a difficult inaugural campaign.
Injuries frustrated him in his second season at the club, before returning in the next campaign to become one of John Aloisi’s most important players.
The fan favourite’s departure from City leaves Jason Hoffman as the sole-surviving foundation player from the Club’s inaugural season.
Check out Kalmar’s top-drawer strike from the 2010/11 season: