WOLLONGONG Wolves have confirmed that Sydney FC star and ex-Socceroo Luke Wilkshire will join the club for the remainder of this National Premier League 1 season and beyond.

In a media conference on Friday morning, Wolves announced the signing.

Wilkshire was born in Wollongong and played three years of youth football with the Wolves and now returns to the club just over 20 years after leaving to head to the Australian Institute of Sport.

media_camera Luke Wilkshire of Sydney kicks during the A-League Semi Final

“Luke’s pedigree is right up there with the best we have ever produced from our region. He has been playing at a professional level since 1998, represented Australia 80 times and this year was one of Sydney FC’s strongest performers helping them claim the Premiers Plate as minor premiers. He started it all right here in the Illawarra and South Coast and it’s superb to have him back home, still playing great football,” Wolves coach Jacob Timpano said.

The club have confirmed that Wilkshire will be their marquee signing and will be available to play as early as this Sunday against competition leaders Sydney Olympic.

Wilkshire suggested he had other offers on the table, but opted to take his career ‘full circle.’

“I have had an amazing football journey and really there is no better way, for me, than to look at finishing my time on the field right here in the Illawarra and South Coast, where it all began for me all those years ago. A bit of a full circle really. I always wanted to one day come back home and give something back and be a part of the next generation coming through and this deal with the Wolves is the ideal way for me to be a part of football in the future across our region,” Wilkshire said.

media_camera A young Luke Wilkshire in action for Middlesbrough

The full back will also be involved in Wolves’ community engagement programs across the Illawarra and South Coast region, and has moved back to the area with his wife and two young children.

“Finishing off my playing career with the Wolves is ideal,” Wilkshire said.

“It started here and will end here. Perfect. Eventually when I do hang my boots up I will continue to be involved in football and I certainly have the coaching bug that’s for sure. With the Wolves the standout choice for expansion of the A-League, the huge strides the club has achieved recently and the opportunity to stay a big part of football right here in the Illawarra and South Coast and do my bit for the region it really is exciting times. Even thought there were quite a few offers to consider, it was an easy decision to make. Home. The Wolves. And the A-League.”

media_camera Luke Wilkshire of Sydney FC

The right back has enjoyed a decorated career in Europe, playing for Middlesbrough in the English Premier League, as well as stints with Dutch clubs FC Twente and Feyenoord, and Russian giants Dynamo Moscow.

Most recently the 36-year-old has been a key member of Sydney FC’s back to back minor premiership winning side and lifted the A-League title with the Sky Blues in 2017.

Capped 80 times for the Socceroos, most recently in 2014, the veteran will now return to his roots as a marquee signing for his home town club.

Wilkshire becomes immediately available for his new team and can play in the current NPL season, Wollonging sit ninth after nine games played.

Originally published as Confirmed: 80-time Socceroo ‘goes full circle’ with NPL move