NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers forward Jaushua Sotirio today signed a one-year contract extension.
The 20-year-old winger has become a mainstay in the Red & Black having played in all four competitions for the club since debuting in 2013.
Sotirio has a total of 29 appearances having played in the Hyundai A-League, AFC Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and Westfield FFA Cup.
After coming through the Wanderers Foxtel NYL team, Sotirio debuted for the first team against Newcastle Jets in Round 10 of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 season but it was the following season where the speedster began to make an impact.
2014 saw Sotirio start his first match, playing 90 minutes and scoring a goal against Perth Glory followed by a career highlight when he came on as a substitute in the Wanderers’ AFC Champions League semi-final against FC Seoul.
Sotirio said he didn’t want to be anywhere other than at the Wanderers.
“It makes you feel very proud and privileged to be part of such a successful club like the Wanderers and I’m really happy to be here for another season,” said Sotirio.
“Being at the Wanderers is the best for me. I’ve been improving due to the whole environment: the coaches, players and fans all push me to be a better person and a better player.
“I’ve been working very hard at training and when you work hard it pays off, now I need to keep playing well consistently and help the team win the title so we can get into the Champions League.”
CEO John Tsatsimas said that Sotirio’s re-signing showed the club’s commitment to youth.
“Jaushua has been with us since our second season so it is with great pleasure that we announce he has signed a contract extension,” said Tsatsimas.
“In many ways Jaushua was the breakthrough player in regards to youth players breaking into the first team: he laid the path that many have since taken such as Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Daniel Alessi and just recently Mario Shabow.
“We have a great belief in promoting talented, young footballers at the Wanderers and with the recent launch of the WSW Academy we hope the re-signing of Jaushua can help inspire the next generation of Western Sydney youngsters coming through.”
