The Covert Agent: Jason Geria to leave Melbourne Victory for Japan

EXCLUSIVE: Goal's resident spy reveals the right-back will leave for Japan imminently and will likely be absent from the derby

Melbourne Victory defender Jason Geria is set to join J-League 2 side JEF United and is unlikely to play in Friday night's Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park.

The Covert Agent can reveal Victory rejected the Japanese team's first attempt to sign the right-back, but today decided to accept a secondary offer with a much-improved transfer fee.

The transfer will be a blow for Victory's championship aspirations having let championship-winning former captain Mark Milligan leave the club for 's Al Ahli during the January window.

Victory have a previous relationship with JEF United - having negotiated the loan and eventual transfer of Milligan in 2012.

Geria has started 20 of Victory's 21 league games this season - with midfielder Matias Sanchez filling in at right-back against Newcastle Jets in early February.

It's expected that Stefan Nigro or Leigh Broxham will fill the vacant right-back role temporarily and it is unknown if Victory are hunting a replacement.

Geria joined Victory in 2013 as a 19-year-old and after establishing himself as first-choice right-back, has made 106 appearances for the club.

He was a part of Victory's 2014-15 A-League double-winning team and earned a single Socceroos cap in a friendly against Greece in June 2016.

Victory sit in fourth place on the A-League table - a whopping 23 points behind leaders Sydney FC.