Sydney FC have secured highly-rated Australian teenager James Overy from Manchester United, with the 18-year-old signing a three-year contract with the Sky Blues.
The right-back joins Sydney FC immediately and will link up with Patrick Kisnorbo’s squad ahead of the new A-League season.
Overy spent the past two years within Manchester United’s Academy after joining the Premier League giants in 2024, having emerged as one of Australia’s most promising teenage footballers.
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The young right back has progressed through Australia’s international pathway, representing the Young Socceroos at the FIFA U20 World Cup and the Australian U23s at this year’s AFC U23 Asian Cup.
Furthermore, Overy has previously been on the periphery when it comes to the senior Socceroos squads despite not playing first team football, and will now be eyeing off a spot in Head Coach Tony Popovic’s squad for next year’s 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Overy said returning to Australia and playing regular senior football represented the right next step in his development.
“I’ve had an unbelievable experience at Manchester United and learned so much from being in that environment every day, but I feel this is the right time for me to take the next step and play senior football,” he said.
“Sydney FC is a massive club with a history of winning trophies and developing young Australian players, so I’m really excited to be joining.
“I want to come in, work hard, compete for a place in the team and show what I can do.
“Being involved with the Socceroos has given me a taste of where I want to get to and playing regularly for Sydney FC is a huge opportunity for me to keep developing and hopefully earn more opportunities with the national team.
“I can’t wait to get started and pull on the Sky Blue shirt.”
The right-back first came to prominence with Perth Glory aged just 15, producing an impressive performance against Premier League side West Ham United in a pre-season friendly in Perth in July 2023.
He was subsequently named by The Guardian among the 60 best young players in the world born in 2007.
Sydney FC Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo believes Overy has the qualities to become an outstanding A-League player.
“James is an extremely exciting young Australian player who we believe has a very big future,” Kisnorbo said.
“He is quick, aggressive, technically very good and loves to get forward from right-back, but he also has the mentality and competitiveness you want from a young defender.
“He has spent two important years developing in an elite environment at Manchester United and now he needs regular senior football to take the next step in his career.
“He has already been around the Socceroos at only 18, which demonstrates how highly regarded he is, and what a good character he is as well.
“We’re delighted James has chosen Sydney FC and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Having signed in in time, Overy could now make his Sydney FC debut in this Wednesday’s Australia Cup semi-final against Melbourne Victory at Jubilee Oval.
Overy becomes Sydney FC’s fifth permanent signing of the off-season.
Former academy graduate Jake Hollman returned to the club on a three-year deal after stints with Macarthur Bulls and most recently English Football League side Walsall whilst young striker Gabriel Popovic has joined from Perth Glory.
Furthermore, two-time AFC Champions League Elite winner Takahiro Sekine has set the pace in pre-season after joining the club, scoring three goals in his first four matches ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Striker Oriola Sunday has also joined the Sky Blues on a season-long loan from Japanese side RB Omiya.
The Sky Blues kick off the 2026/27 A-Leagues campaign with a mouthwatering local derby against Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday, October 16 at Allianz Stadium.
