New Sydney FC defender Jacob Farrell says the decision to leave English side Portsmouth and join the Sky Blues on loan was a ‘no brainer’ as he looks to get his career back on track.
Despite having two years remaining on his contract with the EFL Championship side Farrell has opted to return to the Isuzu UTE A-League in a bid to get regular first team minutes after a series of injuries in England.
The 23-year-old spent the back half of last season on loan at arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers but following conversations with Pompey during the off-season, has subsequently decided to head back to the A-League in a bid to reignite what’s been an injury-disrupted career since leaving Australia.
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“Yeah, it feels good. I’m happy to be back in the A League,” Farrell said when speaking to aleagues.com.au at a media conference on Wednesday morning.
“I’ve always enjoyed my time here, so happy to be back as a Sydney FC player.
“I haven’t played a lot of minutes lately, so that was always the main focus: to get back and play as much as I can.
“And when a club like Sydney came came up, to me, (it was) a bit of a no-brainer.
He added: “It was good to get back and play last year. It’s been been quite a while, so I got a taste for it again and enjoyed it a lot.”
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While Farrell’s deal with the Sky Blues is an initial season-long loan, included in the agreement is an option to to make the move a permanent one at the end of the 2026/27 campaign, something that could be key for both player and club should the two-time A-Leagues Champion’s stint in the Harbour City be a successful one.
Provided he’s fit and ready to go Farrell’s first game of the campaign could well come against the side he last played for, with Sydney FC opening the 2026/27 A-League Men season against the Wanderers in a mouthwatering Sydney Derby at Allianz Stadium on Friday, October 16.
“I grew up watching it, you know, as an A-League fan, so it’ll be good to be a part of it.
“I didn’t get to play in it last year, so I’m excited to play for Sydney this year and hopefully have a good competitive game.
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NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 07: Jacob Farrell of the Wanderers competes for the ball with Xavier Bertoncello of the Jets during the round 20 A-League Men match between Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers at McDonald Jones Stadium, on March 07, 2026, in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)
He added: “That’d be great to be a part of. Big crowds like that, it’s always fun to play in front of.
“So it would be a highlight. I haven’t really played in many bigger than that, so it would be good.”
With uncertainty surrounding the future of current Sky Blues defender Marcel Tisserand Farrell’s signing will add depth to head coach Patrick Kisnorbo’s defensive unit ahead of the new season.
A key part of the Central Coast Mariners side that won two A-Leagues Championships, a Premiership and the AFC Cup between 2022 and 2024, the Mariners legend has predominantly featured as a left back during his time in the A-Leagues.
However Farrell was deployed as a left-sided centre back during his brief stint on loan at the Wanderers last season and it’s a position he sees himself playing in more as time goes on.
“Yeah, he mentioned that when I first started talking to him,” Farrell said when asked if his versatility was something head coach Kisnorbo discussed during their initial conversations.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 3: Jacob Farrell of the Mariners is congratulated by team-mates after he was awarded a penalty during the 2023 A-League Men’s Grand Final match between Melbourne City and Central Coast Mariners at CommBank Stadium, on June 3, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Steve Christo – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
“I can play in a couple positions along the back line, something that I’ve kind of adapted to over the last few years in my career.
“I’m happy that I can play centre back, left back, and he spoke to me about that, so there’s options there for him to play me wherever. It’s definitely a positive.”
Asked specifically if he thinks he’ll end up being a central defender, Farrell said: “Yeah, I could see it happening. You know, I enjoy playing there.
“Once I fill out a bit more as well, get a bit bigger. Hopefully I can. Yeah, I do enjoy playing centre back.”
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