Melbourne City’s impressive off-season recruitment drive has continued with the arrival of Neil Kilkenny on a two-year deal.
Kilkenny, a creative central midfielder, has spent the last two seasons playing at Championship outfit Preston North End alongside fellow Australian Bailey Wright.
Despite having 14 caps for the Socceroos, this season will be Kilkenny’s first in Australia as a professional footballer and the 30-year-old is ready to seize this opportunity.
“I have always wanted to challenge myself in the A-League and this move has come at the perfect time,” he said.
“I’m excited to be playing for a team that plays a certain style of football; I’m looking forward to the challenge and the adventure and everything that surrounds this move and I can’t wait to start.”
Kilkenny has played in England for the past 14 years, starting in Arsenal’s youth system before playing at Birmingham City, Oldham Athletic, Leeds United, Bristol City and Preston North End.
With Aaron Mooy, City’s best player last season, making his own way in the Championship with Huddersfield Town, Melbourne City coach John van’t Schip took the chance to secure a player with a resume like Kilkenny’s.
“Neil has played over a decade in England so has the right qualities to help deliver experience and leadership from the centre of midfield,” van’t Schip said.
“We have followed Neil’s progress and believe he is the type of player who can fit into our system and execute the way we want to play.”
Kilkenny is City’s eighth signing ahead of the 2016-17 A-League season, following new arrivals Manny Muscat, Bruce Kamau, Daniel Arzani, Ruon Tongyik and Luke Brattan and re-signed trio Dean Bouzanis, Nick Fitzgerald and Anthony Caceres.
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