Photo: Skip Fulton
Melbourne Victory defender Thomas Deng is expected to complete a move to Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven, after enjoying a breakthrough 2015-16 A-League campaign.
A move to the 23 time Eredivise and one time European Cup winners has been touted for over a fortnight, with Deng expected to play a role in PSV’s under-23 side, who finished 11th in last season’s Eerste Divisie, the second-tier of Dutch football.
The details of the move are yet to be confirmed by either club, but a one-year deal is believed to have been struck between the two sides.
The South Sudan born youngster, capable of playing in the centre of defence and also at right back, made his senior football debut with Victorian State League Three side Western Eagles FC as a sprightly 16-year-old in 2013.
READ MORE > The rise and rise of Thomas Deng
Having done his apprenticeship as a central midfielder for his first senior club, he made a move to the Green Gully under-20’s under the guidance of Bob Stojcevski, before making his senior debut that same season in 2014.
His form saw him plucked from the Cavaliers to join Melbourne Victory’s National Youth League squad for the 2014-15 season, captaining that side throughout their inaugural NPL1 campaign in 2015.
His form earned him his senior stripes with the Victory, going on to make 12 league appearances in his breakthrough year.
Former Victory teammate Kieran Dover currently joins Deng overseas, with the midfielder securing a six-week trial with English League One side Hartlepool United.
Deng becomes the 11th player to depart the club this transfer window, after the aforementioned Dover, Kosta Barbarouses and Gui Finkler move across the ditch to Wellington Phoenix, Connon Pain’s swap to Central Coast Mariners, the release of Archie Thompson, Giancarlo Gallifucco, Dylan Murnane, Jesse Makarounas and Joey Katebian, and finally the retirement of Mathieu Delpierre.