Jake Brimmer, a previous recipient of the A-League top accolade, has been revealed as Auckland FC’s latest recruit.
Brimmer was previously at Melbourne Victory and has long been considered one of the league’s most accomplished midfielders, having received the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal for the 2021-22 season.
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At 24, Brimmer was the youngest Australian to win the award since Mark Viduka was crowned player of the year in 1995.
His other honours include a highly sought-after spot in the 2022 A-League All-Star team and Melbourne Victory’s 2022 Victory Medal rewarding the club’s Player of the Year. He also received the Mark Viduka Medal in 2021, awarded to the best player in the Australia Cup final.
“He possesses immense talent that will take him beyond the A-League. Auckland FC has the pathways to help him achieve that and we anticipate he will step up to his role within the club as a key contributor to the team’s success both on and off the field,” said head coach Steve Corica.
Born in Lilydale, Victoria, Brimmer attributes his early years playing at Nunawading City FC as the most influential time of his career.
“It’s where I learnt at a young age, the competitive side of football, and the importance of fighting for the badge. It’s what took me to Liverpool and then back to Melbourne,” said Brimmer, now 26, at his unveiling on Tuesday.
“It’s never easy leaving the club you’ve grown up supporting, but Auckland FC will provide an exciting new challenge for the next phase of my career. Having played alongside many of the team, I know how strong the squad is and I can’t wait to be part of this group’s drive to win."
The move comes after the first-year club inked three more players - Scott Galloway, Callan Elliot and Joey Champness - last week.
The three signings bring a significant amount of professional experience to the club and will continue to strengthen the squad with more than 400 professional caps between them.
“These are three quality players who will provide the club with a solid foundation. I’m proud to bring them here and they are just as excited to play for us,” said Corica.
Australian Galloway, 29, is an experienced defender joining from Melbourne City. The Perth local has played more than 243 professional games, the majority in the A-League, including 22 for the Wellington Phoenix back in 2017-18.
Elliot, 25, is another familiar name who will now be wearing the black and blue of Auckland FC.
The right back returns to New Zealand after a season with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC. He is working towards getting back into contention for the All Whites squad and adding to his three international appearances.
Auckland-born left-winger Champness has six international caps to his name and has been playing in Turkey since the start of the 2020-21 season, most recently with Adanaspor.
As well as being a talented footballer, Champness is a talented musician, releasing music under the stage name Jowic.