Adelaide United farewells talented goalkeeper, Joe Gauci, who has joined English Premier League giants Aston Villa Football Club for an undisclosed transfer fee.
Gauci joined the Reds ahead of the 2020/21 Isuzu UTE A-League season, making his debut in a memorable 3-1 victory.
During his time at United, Gauci made a total of 76 appearances and 16 clean sheets and represented Australia on two occasions.
Speaking about the move, Gauci said: “Thank you Reds fans, the support you’ve shown me over the last 3 and a half seasons has been nothing short of incredible.
“From my debut to my first home game and clean sheet, to playing finals football at Coopers Stadium and classic away wins, the love you’ve given me over this period has made these memories even more memorable and they are something I’m going to carry with me for the rest of my life.
“I would also like to thank all the staff members and players, past and present, that have supported me through this journey. The environment the Club has created has really allowed me to flourish and be my true self, on and off the field, that has allowed me to reach the level that I have.
“I would like to wish everyone at the club all the best for the rest of the season and I look forward to supporting the Club from afar. I really hope in the future our paths will cross again.”
Adelaide United Goalkeeper Coach, Eugene Galekovic, added: “We’ve witnessed Joe’s growth and development firsthand during his time with us.
“His commitment to improving as a goalkeeper has been evident in every training session and match.
“Joe’s positive attitude, work ethic, and exceptional talent have made him an asset to our team.
“While we are sad to see him go, we understand that this transfer presents a fantastic opportunity for Joe to further elevate his career, joining one of the worlds truly great competitions.
“We wish Joe all the success in the world, and should he return to Australia, he will always be welcome back at Adelaide.”
The recent demand for United players in the current transfer window, including two players snapped up by English Premier League clubs, is further testament to the quality footballers the Club has produced through its development system in recent times.
