Transfer Deadline Day in the Isuzu UTE A-League

The Isuzu UTE A-League transfer window is officially closed.

There were big moves aplenty on the final day of the window as clubs around the competition raced against the clock to fill out their respective squads for the 2025-26 campaign.

Teams had until 10:00pm AEST to submit all required information to Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in relation to player registrations before the window shut.

As long as clubs beat the clock on Monday night, expect more confirmed deals to be announced in the coming day/s.

CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE
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09:48 – 🇩🇪 WILLKOMMEN, DYLAN! AUSSIE TEEN SIGNS FOR GERMAN GIANTS 🇩🇪

Schalke have signed Isuzu UTE A-League young gun Dylan Leonard on a five-year contract.

Leonard joins the German giants in the 2.Bundesliga until June 2030 following a breakout season in the A-Leagues.

FULL STORY: German giants sign Aussie teen sensation after breakout A-Leagues season

09:31 – 🏆 HOLA, JUAN! VICTORY CONFIRM CAPTURE OF WORLD CUP WINNER 🏆

It’s finally official: Melbourne Victory have confirmed the signing of former Chelsea, Manchester United and Spain midfielder Juan Mata.

The 37-year-old turned down the chance to stay at Western Sydney Wanderers and has now signed on with Victory ahead of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season.

“I am excited to be coming to Melbourne and to be part of one of the most respected Clubs in the League and playing in front of the incredible members and fans.”

FULL STORY: Juan Mata joins Melbourne Victory: Full details

09:00 – 🇨🇷 BRISBANE ANNOUNCE SIGNING OF COSTA RICAN INTERNATIONAL 🇨🇷

Brisbane Roar have announced the signing of Costa Rican international midfielder Youstin Salas on a season-long loan ahead of the Isuzu UTE 25/26 A-League campaign.

The 29-year-old arrives in Brisbane from Sporting San Jose FC, where he was on loan from parent club Deportivo Saprissa since January 2025.

FULL STORY: Brisbane Roar bring Costa Rica international back to the A-Leagues

08:02 – 🪄 WELLINGTON PHOENIX SIGN EXPERIENCED A-LEAGUES MIDFIELDER 🪄

Wellington Phoenix didn’t announce it until this morning but Giancarlo Italiano’s side snuck a late deal through before last night’s 11:59pm (AEST) deadline!

Midfielder Ramy Najjarine has been signed ahead of the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League 2025-26 season.

“I was a big fan of him at Wanderers as well and I feel he’s a really good talented pocket player,” Italiano said.

“Wherever he has gone he hasn’t really played in the position that he’s best suited.

“Here he’ll be more of a central focus as a 10 and someone that we can build around.”

FULL STORY: Nix finalise men’s squad with second deadline day signing

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

20:01 – 👋 WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS CONFIRM JUAN MATA DEPARTURE 👋

It’s official – Juan Mata has left the Western Sydney Wanderers after just one season in Red and Black.

Mata made 23 appearances in the Isuzu UTE A-League last season as Alen Stajcic’s side return to the Finals Series.

“Having a player of Juan’s calibre at our club was a privilege and an important milestone in our history,” said Wanderers CEO Scott Hudson.

“He not only delivered on the field with his quality and professionalism but also gave so much to our community and playing squad.

“We thank Juan for his enormous contribution to the Wanderers and wish him all the best in the future.”

Where next for the Spanish icon? 🤔

FULL DETAILS: Wanderers confirm Mata departure

18:00 – 🇪🇸 ADELAIDE SIGN SPANISH CREATOR ON THREE-YEAR DEAL 🇪🇸

Adelaide United have signed 33-year-old Spanish attacking midfielder Juan Muñiz Gallego on a three-year deal set to run until the end of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2027-28 season.

Muñiz joins the club from Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C. (JDT) where he won the Malaysian Super League title in 2023 and 2024, to go with two Malaysian Cup and two Malaysian FA Cup titles and the Piala Sumbangsih (Malaysian Charity Shield) in 2023.

FULL STORY: Spanish forward joins Adelaide on three-year deal after trophy-laden stint at Malaysian giants

17:00 – BRISBANE FAREWELL YOUNG DEFENDER

Brisbane Roar have confirmed the departure of scholarship defender Pearson Kasawaya from the football club after the mutual termination of his contract.

Kasawaya joined the football club ahead of the 2024-25 season on a two-year scholarship contract. During his time at the club, Pearson made four Isuzu UTE A-League Men appearances for the club, along with featuring frequently for Brisbane Roar B.

15:45 – 🚨 PRESS CONFERENCE ALERT! MELBOURNE VICTORY ARE ANNOUNCING SOMETHING SPECIAL 🚨

More Melbourne Victory news and this time it IS to do with a player!

The club has just announced they’ll be holding a press conference on Tuesday morning to ‘announce the signing of a major international player.’

I wonder who it could be?!

aleagues.com.au will be there tomorrow to bring you all the latest…

15:01 – ✍️ VICTORY RECRUIT SOME PREMIER LEAGUE EXPERIENCE ✍️

Okay so this one isn’t a player signing as such but it is pretty interesting!

Melbourne Victory have today confirmed Paul Barber OBE has accepted a role on the Board of Directors at the club.

Not only is he the current CEO of Brighton and Hove Albion but he’s also worked at both Tottenham Hotspur and in Major League Soccer.

FULL STORY: Premier League club’s CEO joins Melbourne Victory’s Board of Directors

15:00 – 🇦🇺 MELBOURNE CITY SNAP-UP JOEYS DEFENDER 🇦🇺

Reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Champions Melbourne City have added more depth to their squad of the upcoming season, signing teenage defender Besian Kutleshi on a long-term contract.

The 16-year-old spent two years in City’s academy between 2022 and 2024 before a one-season stint at Western United but is now back in City Blue.

“This club has been such a big part of my development, and I know it’s the best place for me to keep improving as a player,” said Kutleshi after sealing his return to the club.

14:00 – 🙏 WELLINGTON PHOENIX SIGN LEFT-SIDED DEFENDER: ‘PERSERVERANCE PAYS OFF’ 🙏

Wellington Phoenix have made their move on Deadline Day, handing left-sided defender Dan Edwards his first professional contract ahead of the new Isuzu UTE A-League season.

The 27-year-old joins the Nix from NPLM VIC Premiers Avondale FC having played semi-pro football in Victoria for the last five seasons.

“I spoke to my family and my partner and they all said the same thing ‘not many people get the chance to live out their childhood dream so you’ve got to take it’ and I completely agreed,” said Edwards after inking his first pro-deal aged 27.

FULL STORY: ‘Special’ call that prompted 27yo NPL star to quit his full-time job & fulfil pro dream

13:34 – ‘JUAN’ TO KEEP AN EYE ON? 👀

The Adelaide admin is on fire with this one! Looks as though Reds fans may have something to cheer come the end of the day…

Will it be just the ‘Juan’ player they announce or are there more signings to come?

13:00 – 🇪🇸 SYDNEY FC ADD STAR QUALITY TO THEIR ATTACK 🇪🇸

We have our first big deal of Deadline Day and it’s Sydney FC who have done the business, signing former Espanyol and Sporting Gijon forward VICTOR CAMPUZANO.

The 28-year-old joins the Sky Blues on a two-year deal having most recently left Gijon and boasts Europa League experience on his CV as well as over 200 league appearances playing across Spain’s top two divisions.

FULL STORY: Sydney FC prise former Real Madrid striker to A-Leagues at the ‘peak’ of his powers

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

When does the transfer window close?

The Isuzu UTE A-League transfer window closes on September 15, 2025.

Deadline day will bring an end to the FIFA-approved 12-week period for player registration, which began on June 24, 2025.

Clubs will have until 10:00pm AEST to submit all required information to Australian Professional Leagues (APL) in relation to player registrations before the window closes.

Squad regulations

Isuzu UTE A-League clubs must maintain a roster that complies with APL regulations through the course of a season.

These regulations specify an Isuzu UTE A-League squad:

a) must include a minimum of 18 players;
(b) must not exceed the maximum of 23 players;
(c) must include a minimum of two (2) goalkeepers;
(d) may include an unlimited number of youth players;
(e) include a maximum of four (4) homegrown players at any one time;
(f) may include a maximum of two (2) marquee players at any one time;
(g) may include a maximum of two (2) designated players at any one time;
(h) may include an unlimited number of loyalty players; and
(i)may include a maximum of five (5) foreign players at any one time, whereby: a maximum of two (2) Foreign Players at any one time may be under the age of 20 on or before 31 December 2025; andin relation to NZ Clubs only, such foreign players must be players other than Australian players or New Zealand players.

Clubs may also have one guest player who sits outside the Isuzu UTE A-League roster.

CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE

Top transfers of the window so far

There have been plenty of statement signings in the transfer window this off-season, with several clubs reinforcing their squads with stellar overseas imports and Subway Socceroos.

Adelaide United have welcomed club legend and Socceroos star Craig Goodwin back to the club after a two-season stint in Saudi Arabia – and the Reds weren’t the only club to have lured a fan favourite home, with fellow Socceroo Jason Davidson headed back to Melbourne Victory for 2025-26, along with Denis Genreau.

Macarthur Bulls drew attention with the recruitment of ex-Sunderland striker and South Korea international Ji Dong-won, while Melbourne City added Japanese attacker Takeshi Kanamori to their ranks for the club’s Championship defence.

Sydney FC landed Peru star Piero Quispe in a coup along with DR Congo international Marcel Tisserand signing after a prestigious career in Europe, while Vanuatu captain Brian Kaltak swapped Central Coast Mariners for Perth Glory this off-season.

And that’s only scratching the surface – click here to visit the Isuzu UTE A-League transfer centre and keep up to date with every deal done in the window ahead of its closure on September 15.

CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE TRANSFER CENTRE

Transfer Deadline Day in the Isuzu UTE A-League

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