Despite having lost Ange Postecoglou, Celtic is set to boost its Australian contingent with the signing of Socceroos attacker Marco Tilio from Melbourne City.
The 21-year-old winger will join Socceroos teammate Aaron Mooy and assistant coach Harry Kewell at the Hoops, who last week confirmed the return of manager Brendan Rodgers to take over from the departed Postecoglou, who has taken charge of English Premier League club Tottenham.
A member of Australia’s 2022 World Cup squad, Tilio has made five appearances for the Socceroos.
He has spent the past three seasons at City after moving to the Melbourne club from Sydney FC.
In his 79 A-League appearances, Tilio scored 18 goals and won the championship with City in 2021.
While City coach Rado Vidosic would not confirm Tilio’s departure, he was all but resigned to being without the talented winger next season.
“I doubt we will be able to keep him,” Vidosic said.
“He had a fantastic season for us.”
Tilio’s departure continues the exodus from City, who have already lost a host of players – including Socceroos pair Aiden O’Neill and Jordan Bos, imports Valon Berisha, Thomas Lam and Richard van der Venne, and goalkeeper Thomas Glover – from the team thrashed 6-1 by the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League grand final earlier this month.
Club captain Scott Jamieson also retired after the heavy loss and will join City’s coaching staff next year.
City will soon confirm the signings of veteran goalkeeper Jamie Young and experienced midfielder Steven Ugarkovic and has already confirmed the acquisition of 32-year-old German midfielder Tolgay Arslan, who has spent the past three seasons at Italian top-flight club Udinese.