New Sydney FC signing James Overy admits the decision to leave Manchester United was ‘a painful one, but the right one’ as he bids to kickstart his professional football career and lock down a spot in the Socceroos’ AFC Asian Cup squad.
The 18-year-old swapped England’s North West for the Harbour City on Monday, putting pen-to-paper on a three-year deal after deciding to leave Manchester United in favour of a move to Sydney FC.
A product of the Perth Glory academy, Overy has now returned to Australia from Manchester as he looks to ignite his professional career, with Sydney FC winning the race for his signature after beating off competition from several other A-Leagues teams.
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: James Overy poses for a portrait during a Sydney FC media opportunity at Allianz Stadium on September 07, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Key to Overy’s decision was the recent success of Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler.
The 21-year-old joined Sydney FC from Portuguese giants Benfica on a permanent deal at the beginning of the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League season before then sealing a move to the German Bundesliga this off-season after a standout season in Sky Blue which also saw him represent Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“I think Sydney was the right place to come because it’s the biggest club in Australia,” Overy said, when speaking to aleagues.com.au at his unveiling on Monday afternoon.
“You’ve seen the Sydney FC pathway and how they get the younger players that have been in Europe and develop them and then sell them on again.
“So yeah, that was one of the main things that persuaded me, and I’m just really excited to be here and get started.”
Overy joins a Sydney FC side looking to go one better this season having reached the 2024/25 Grand Final where they were ultimately defeated 1-0 by Auckland FC.
If Overy is to get regular game time this season he’ll have to overcome Sydney FC icon and current club Captain Rhyan Grant, with the 35-year-old looking to once again cement his spot as first-choice right back for the coming campaign.
“Nah, he’s been so good ever since the first day I walked in the building,” Overy smiled, when asked if he there had been any competitive tension between the two.
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 11: Rhyan Grant of Sydney celebrates at full-time during the round 24 A-League Men match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC at CommBank Stadium, on April 11, 2026, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
“He shook my hand, spoke to me, had long conversations with me. Even today, like we had a long conversation, he did extras with me after training today we were just doing crosses, me and him, just talking.
“He such a good guy and I just want to learn off of him. He’s such an icon and I look up to him.”
In the two years he was with Manchester United Overy went from training in the academy to regularly training with the first team environment under head coaches Ruben Amorim and latterly Michael Carrick.
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Daily interactions with United captain Bruno Fernandes and England internationals Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount formed a daily part of Overy’s development at United.
However the 18-year-old admits he knew he had to step out of his comfort zone inside the English giant’s academy and test himself at a higher level, playing week in, week out.
“I think it was pretty like difficult in a way because I knew I was coming, but I was still training at United,” Overy said.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 6: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 6, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
“Like all the boys knew I was leaving, so it was hard because I grew up with them, like I was with them every single day. So it was pretty difficult in that sense.
“But if you take the emotion out of it, I just knew footballing-wise, it was the right decision for me. Everyone said it, like this is the right next step for you.
He continued: “Everyone said it, like this is the right next step for you. This is the right thing for you to do.
“But I still took a couple days, you know, when I landed here, to just like process it all, and then once I was like, yeah, like this is the right thing to do, you just get going and get playing, get training.”
Having already sighted the transfer success of Okon-Engstler’s move to German side FC Koln as the blueprint he wants to follow, Overy concedes the goal of playing for the Socceroos is something that’s firmly in his sights.
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The right-back has already had experience of being involved with the Socceroos under Head Coach Tony Popovic after being called up for the friendly matches against Venezuela and Colombia in late 2025.
And now, with the AFC Asian Cup in in January 2027 fast approaching, Overy admits he’s going to be doing all he can to book his ticket to Saudi Arabia in mid-season as the Socceroos look to lift continental silverware once again.
“Yeah, definitely. You know, I’d be lying if I said no,” Overy said when asked whether he’s targeting a spot in Poppvic’s Asian Cup squad.
“But obviously, the main goal for me is to come here, play as many games as I can, and just start my professional career here.
“But you know, there is an Asian Cup in January, so I do think, oh, if I start the season, play well, then hopefully give the boss no chance, but to pick me.
“But that’s not really my main goal, obviously. Like it’s in the back of my mind, and I’d love to do that, but my main goal is just to play every game for Sydney and just win games and win trophies.”
Overy will be hoping to make his Sydney FC debut on Wednesday night when the Sky Blues face fierce rivals Melbourne Victory in the semi-final of the 2026 Australia Cup.
Following that, Sydney FC then kick off the new 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League season at home to cross-town foes Western Sydney Wanderers in a Sydney Derby on Friday, October 16.
