Latest news with #Okon-Engstler
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Sydney FC signs son of former Socceroos star
A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France. A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France. A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler signs three-year deal with Sydney FC
FIFA World Cup hopeful Paul Okon-Engstler has joined Sydney FC from Portuguese club Benfica. The 20-year-old midfielder, who was named in a senior Socceroos squad for the first time last month, has signed a three-season deal with the Sky Blues. 'Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in,' the son of Socceroos great Paul Okon said. 'It's a special moment for me and my family. I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career.' Born in Belgium, Okon-Engstler has spent the past three years at Benfica, where he played for the club's youth and reserve teams. The former Marconi and Western Sydney Wanderers youth player had a leading role in Australia's AFC Under-20 Asian Cup triumph earlier this year, and is set to be part of the Young Socceroos squad at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which starts in September in Chile. Our first look at @paulokonjnr in Sky Blue 🤩 #WeAreSydney — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) July 25, 2025 A strong season with the Sky Blues will also put Okon-Engstler in the selection frame for Australia's squad at next year's FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay said Okon-Engstler was a 'fantastic young talent with a huge future ahead of him'. 'Paul has excellent positional awareness, a real calmness in possession, and can break up play while also building from the back,' Talay said. 'He's come through top systems, and we believe he's ready to take the next step in his development here in Sydney. 'His potential is enormous, and we're proud to play a role in his future both at club level and hopefully on the international stage.' Okon-Engstler could make his Sky Blues debut on Tuesday night when the Sydneysiders travel to Ironbark Fields to meet Western United in an Australia Cup round-of-32 clash.
Perth Now
6 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sydney FC signs son of former Socceroos star
A day after signing Al Hassan Toure, Sydney FC have secured the services of emerging Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler from Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. The Sky Blues have signed Okon-Engstler - the son of former Socceroos defender Paul Okon - on a three-year deal. The 20-year-old joins from Portugal's most successful club Benfica, who made the last 16 at the recent FIFA Club World Cup. Okon-Engstler was called into Tony Popovic's Socceroos squad for recent World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. Although he is yet to make his international debut, he is considered a rising star and remains in the mix to feature for Australia at the 2026 World Cup. Okon-Engstler progressed through Benfica's academy and featured in the Portuguese second division throughout last season. "I'm really excited to be joining Sydney FC and to start this next chapter of my career back in Australia," Okon-Engstler said. "Sydney FC is a fantastic, forward-thinking football club with a progressive football philosophy and strategy which really drew me in. "It's a special moment for me and my family, I'm coming here to win trophies and fast-track my career and I can't wait to play in front of the Sky Blue members." Okon-Engstler could make his first appearance for Sydney on July 29 when they take on Western United in the Australia Cup. Toure, who started his career at Adelaide United, signed a two-year deal. The 25-year-old returns to Australia from FC Tulsa in the USL Championship after stints in Turkey and France.
