Image: Mark Avellino

Green Gully have made their first acquisition of the mid-season transfer window after bringing in goalkeeper Lucas Spinella into the side from Melbourne Victory Youth.

The 20-year-old exits the Victory having spent the better part of the last three years at the club, which also included being on a professional contract for the past two years.

A product of the Centre of Excellence in Canberra, Spinella returned home to Melbourne in 2014 and subsequently joined Richmond before departing mid-campaign for Sunshine George Cross.

He made his senior debut for the Georgies before joining the Victory Youth set-up at the end of the campaign and becaming a key part of their promotion from NPL2 into 2015 as play-off winners.

In total he played a total of 38 senior games for Victory Youth over the course of the last two years, with the coaching staff at the club preferring a developmental rotating policy in matches.

He was unable to get any senior first-team game time despite being second-choice to Lawrence Thomas at one point with the club’s decision to sign Matt Acton as injury replacement for the recently released Alastair Bray last year, spelling the end of his first-team opportunities.

He continued to play his part for Gareth Naven’s men this term by featuring in seven of the club’s NPL2 fixtures as he and Stephen Hatzikourtis competed for that number one role.

Spinella is expected to now battle it out for the Gully first-choice role with current incumbent Rani Dowisha.

He is eligible to make his debut for his new employers in tomorrow’s league clash at home to the Bentleigh Greens as well as also being available for their FFA Cup last eight tie against the same opposition next Tuesday evening.