The NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers have today announced the signing of striker Oriol Riera for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons.
The 31-year-old Catalan joins the Wanderers as a marquee player from La Liga side Deportivo de La Coruña, having spent last season on-loan at fellow Spanish side Osasuna.
A product of FC Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy and a former teammate of the likes of Lionel Messi, Gerrard Piqué and Cesc Fàbregas, Riera arrives in Western Sydney having netted four times in La Liga for Osasuna last season, including a fantastic header against UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid.
Noted for his finishing, aerial ability and strong physical presence, Riera will land in Sydney this week before joining his teammates in pre-season training as they prepare to face Arsenal on 15 July.
Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said that this signing gives the club an added boost for the coming campaign.
“We are very excited to have a player of Oriol’s calibre join us for the next two seasons,” said Tsatsimas.
“Oriol has an exceptional pedigree and will no doubt enhance our playing strength and provides us with a great platform to be serious contenders at the business end of the season.”
NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers Hyundai A-League 2017/18 squad:
Goalkeepers: John Hall (Injury Replacement Player), Vedran Janjetovic, Jerrad Tyson
Defenders: Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Keanu Baccus, Aritz Borda, Jack Clisby, Robert Cornthwaite, Brendan Hamill, Josh Risdon, Michael Thwaite
Midfielders: Kearyn Baccus, Roly Bonevacia, Steven Lustica, Jacob Melling
Attackers: Jumpei Kusukami, Oriol Riera, Brendon Santalab, Lachlan Scott, Jaushua Sotirio
Scholarship Players: Abraham Majok, Nicholas Suman
