Another Socceroos star is reportedly heading to Portugal on a monster transfer.
And a teammate could be set to unite with childhood friend Nestory Irankunda, as the European country becomes a haven for some of Australia’s brightest talents.
Catch up on all the latest moves and whispers in Football Transfers.
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MONSTER DEAL FOR SOCCEROOS STAR
Portuguese giants Benfica have reportedly landed star Australian centre back Alessandro Circati, according to reports.
The Italian-born 22-year old has been at Serie A club Parma since 2022 after bursting onto the scene as a member of A-League side Perth Glory’s academy, where he moved at age 1.
He has since played a key role in the club’s promotion to Serie A in 2024, making 33 appearances across all competitions last season.
But according to Sky Sports Italy, Parma have agreed to terms with Benfica, with Circati to head to Portugal for a €20 million transfer fee – worth roughly $32.5 million.
If confirmed, the deal would rival Nestory Irankunda’s move to fellow Portuguese giants Sporting CP and Lucas Herrington’s recent switch to Premier League club Hull City as the most expensive transfer ever for an Australian player.
However, it is less than the reported €25 million ($41.1m) price tag Parma had reportedly placed on their vice-captain’s head, after he attracted interest from a number of rival Italian powerhouses following an excellent World Cup.
After the Socceroos reached the knockout rounds for the second straight tournament, the defender caught the eye of Juventus and AC Milan, while Premier League club Newcastle, La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and two-time reigning Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.
In July, Circati’s father and co-agent Gianfranco told football360.com.au that he was “very happy” to remain at Parma, where he was contracted until 2029.
“It’s really up to Parma whether they want to keep him or sell him … there have been some talks,” he said.
Circati’s choice to represent Australia internationally rather than Italy, having represented the Azzurri at U21 level, in 2023 was widely celebrated.
In 2025, he became the Socceroos’ youngest captain since 1981 after taking on the armband against New Zealand, in only his seventh appearance in gold.
A-LEAGUE STAR’S SUDDEN DEPARTURE
Socceroos and Melbourne Victory winger Nishan Velupillay has abruptly departed the A-League powerhouse ahead of a move to Europe.
The 25-year old Melburnian made his World Cup debut for Australia against Turkiye at the 2026 tournament after coming on in the 61st minute.
However, after seven years at Victory, who he supported as a child, Velupillay is leaving the club for greener pastures elsewhere, despite having another year to run on his contract.
The move was seemingly confirmed by his arrival in Germany for a medical with his new team, who is yet to be publicly confirmed.
Victory did not comment when contacted on the transfer by news.com.au.
Velupillay’s departure is unwelcome news in the midst of the club’s Australia Cup campaign, which continues on Wednesday night with a quarter-final clash against NPL NSW side APIA Leichhardt.
MO ON THE MOVE AS REUNION WITH CHILDHOOD FRIEND LOOMS
Emerging Socceroo Mohamed Toure is set to transfer to a European powerhouse, with a number of the region’s most powerful clubs interested in the 22-year old.
The striker currently plays for Norwich City in the Championship, the second-highest tier of English football.
He scored a 40-second opener in the Canaries’ Carabao Cup win over League One side MK Dons just days ago, while he bagged nine goals in just 11 Championship matches last season.
Among the interested parties include Premier League club Hull City, who recently signed fellow Socceroo Lucas Herrington on a whopping $32.5 million transfer fee, and Sporting CP, who inked a similar deal to lure another Australian in Nestory Irankunda out of Watford.
The Sporting offer carries an extra incentive: the chance to reunite with Irankunda, with the close friends having broken out while at Adelaide United in the Premier League.
“We’ve come up together, and we’ve known each other for a very long time, and our friendship is very, very close,” Irankunda said of Toure during the World Cup.
It has been reported that the move could cost Sporting or Hull a whopping $30 million transfer fee, only slightly behind the cost for Irankunda and Herrington.