Perth Glory has made a major coup by signing former Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge for the upcoming A-League main season.
Sturridge is a two-time UEFA Champions League and FA Cup winner, scoring 68 goals during his six-year spell at Liverpool; He also won the Premier League title with Chelsea.
Internationally, he was part of England's squad at the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 UEFA European Championship, and featured for Team Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London.
He made the last of his 27 senior appearances for England in 2017.
The 32-year-old left Turkey side Trabzonspor in March last year after being handed a four-month worldwide ban for betting rules violations.
He is alleged to have instructed his brother Leon to bet on a possible move to Spanish club Sevilla during the January 2018 transfer window.
The move did not go ahead, but an independent commission found Sturridge guilty of a betting rule violation.
He was given a six-week ban, with four weeks suspended, but this was extended to four months after a successful appeal by the Football Association.
Sturridge hasn't played for the professional side in 18 months, and is excited to start a new chapter in Glory.
"This is a great opportunity to try a new challenge," he said.
"When the opportunity came, it felt like the right thing to do, to take my talent somewhere where I could enjoy my football in a competitive league and try to help the team be as successful as possible.
"I'm going to put my best foot forward, work hard and try to help the team win each and every game that comes along, and then we'll see where we end up when the season is over."
Sturridge, who got his first big break at Manchester City, is one of the most high-profile players to have signed for the A-League men's club.
Others include Italian greats Alessandro Del Piero (Sydney FC), Dwight York (Sydney FC), Robbie Fowler (North Queensland Fury and Perth), William Gallus (Perth), Harry Kewell (Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart), Tim Cahill (Melbourne City). ) Are included. ), Keisuke Honda (Melbourne Victory) and David Villa (Melbourne City).
"Daniel is undoubtedly one of the biggest signings not only in Glory's history, but in A-League history," said Glory owner Tony Sage.
"His arrival signals in no uncertain terms how determined we are to bring continued success to the club and the lengths we will go to achieve that goal.
“We know the elite level of quality Danielle will bring to the team and are extremely excited to see her wearing the famous purple this season.”