The 21-year old had been mulling over offers from several other clubs, most notably Brisbane Roar, who he is rumoured to have visited last month.

However, it is understood that City were able to offer the best financial terms and have promised to provide a pathway back into Europe. The deal is expected to be concluded later this week.

It is unclear whether he will sign with Melbourne City or parent club Manchester City and be subsequently loaned back, as was the case with Anthony Caceres and Luke Brattan.

Excitingly for City fans, the arrival of De Silva would see him link up with the nation’s brightest teenage prospect, the World Cup-bound Daniel Arzani.

De Silva was technically under contract at the Central Coast Mariners until the end of the 2019-20 season but had a clause inserted in his deal that allowed him to gain an immediate release if previous coach Paul Okon left the club.

With Okon sacked before the end of the season, De Silva openly began looking for a new club, not wanting to stay with the Mariners after they finished bottom of the table.

The 21-year old spent two seasons in the Netherlands with Eredivisie club Roda JC but was never able to regularly break into the first team, playing only 16 matches for the club, triggering his move back to Australia in search of more game time.

De Silva enjoyed his best season as a professional in 2017-18, playing 20 games and scoring three goals as he thrived on the extra responsibility. He won both the "Men of Football Damien Brown Medal" and the "Central Coast Mariners Official Supporters Club Player of the Year Award".