AZ has announced the arrival of Australia’s first-choice goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. The thirty-year-old goalkeeper comes over from FC Copenhagen and has signed a contract until the summer of 2024. He is the second winter reinforcement after Djordje Mihailovic.
Ryan, a 79-time international for Australia and first-choice at the Socceroos at the World Cup, has lost his starting spot at Copenhagen and hopes to revive his career in Alkmaar. He previously played in Europe for Club Brugge, Valencia, RC Genk, Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal and Real Sociedad. Because the work permit has not yet arrived, it will take a while before Ryan can be deployed.
AZ’s statement
The acquisition says on the AZ website that it cannot wait to get started. “You only have to look at the club and its history once to see that it is a good and ambitious club. There is a lot to play for and I dream of achieving the highest of the highest together with the team,” he explains.
According to football affairs director Max Huiberts, Ryan is the perfect keeper for AZ. “He has shown that he is good at different levels and has been our top contender from the start. We were looking for someone who is there immediately when he is fit. That’s him. Everything fits into the picture in that regard.”
Hobie Verhulst is currently the first goalkeeper for the Alkmaarders. From the summer he was the replacement under the crossbar for Peter Vindahl Jensen. Who was still first choice last season. This winter break, the 24-year-old Dane made the switch to 1. FC Nürnberg on a loan deal.
The contract between Copenhagen and Ryan included a release clause of half a million euros, but according to the Danish BT, AZ would have made a lower offer in order to be able to meet the goalkeeper’s high salary.
