Melbourne City FC can announce Australian quartet Paulo Retre, Jack Clisby, Connor Chapman and Jacob Melling have signed new Hyundai A-League deals.
The new contracts will see Retre, Melling and Clisby – who are among the A-League’s emerging young talents – commit to the Club until the end of the 2017/18 season..
Also regarded as one of the A-League’s best young defensive talents, Chapman, 21, has signed a three-year deal which will see him contracted with City until the 2018/19 season.
Chapman made his 50th Hyundai A-League appearance this campaign and has been a mainstay in City’s defence, making 26 appearances for John van’t Schip’s side in his two seasons with the Club.
Melling, 20, had a breakout campaign last season in the heart of City’s midfield, emerging as an energetic, robust and talented central defensive midfielder with the ability to contribute well to the team’s attack.
He has also demonstrated his versatility to cover in the centre of City’s defence, having featured alongside Chapman this season.
Retre, 22, has also demonstrated his versatility across the defence and in midfield, having played as a right-back and central midfielder across 12 appearances this season, while Clisby, 23, has impressed since joining the Club in January 2014, making 22 appearances in City’s defence.
Head Coach John van’t Schip said: “Connor, Jack, Paulo and Jacob have been an important part of the first team during the past two seasons, and their new deals are evidence of how key they have become to the senior squad.
“They are some of the A-League’s emerging young talents and we are delighted with their continued commitment to Melbourne City.”
Melbourne City FC’s Head of Talent Management, Michael Petrillo, said: “We’re pleased to have secured these four young talented players with the Club and believe they are players who have a very promising future in the Australian game.
“Melbourne City have made an ongoing commitment to developing young Australian talent, and these players show how exciting the home-grown talent is in this country.”
