WESTERN Sydney Wanderers confirm the signing of Socceroos striker Nikita Rukavytsya, with club CEO John Tsatsimas calling it ‘a class acquisition.’

As revealed by The Daily Telegraph last week, Rukavytsya had been mulling over offers from the Western Sydney club, as well as his hometown club Perth Glory, but he decided on a new challenge.

Rukavytsya still has family in Perth and had an offer from the Glory to sign on as the club’s marquee, but is understood to have been swayed by the Wanderers’ Asian success.

media_camera Nikita Rukavytsya scores a goal for the Socceroos against South Korea.

Tsatsimas was excited to bring the 27-year-old to Pirtek Stadium.

“This is a class acquisition for the club. Nikita will give us options across our frontline, has a strong pedigree and is familiar with the Hyundai A-League,” he said.

“We are at the beginning of a hectic season schedule and it is important that we add to the depth of our squad.

“The fact that he is an Australian player is a bonus in our view.”

Rukavytsya has been on the outer at Mainz 05 in the German Bundesliga and trialled with Israeli champions Maccabi Tel-Aviv earlier in the year, without agreeing to a deal.

The Ukrainian-born striker, who has made 13 appearances for the Socceroos, broke into the Perth side as a 19-year-old before moving to FC Twente in Holland.

A year later, in 2010, Rukavytsya transferred to Hertha Berlin, where he made 56 appearances before being signed by Mainz O5.

But after failing to break into the first team under new coach Kasper Hjulmand, Rukavytsya spent last season on loan with Frankfurt.

The forward is the Wanderers’ final signing of the campaign, with the transfer window closing on October 22.

Rukavytsya can play up front or on the left and will add speed and firepower to the Wanderers’ attacking threats, alongside Tomi Juric, Brendan Santalab and Labinot Haliti.

His arrival comes at an important time for the Wanderers, who suffered a shock 4-1 defeat in their season-opener against Melbourne Victory on Friday night.

This week they are preparing to play Sydney FC in what’s expected to be another heated cross-city derby at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.