Isuzu UTE A-League champions Melbourne City have confirmed Callum Talbot will depart the club upon the expiration of his contract.
Moving to Melbourne in May 2022 from Sydney FC, the full-back went on to make 85 appearances for City and clinched the Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership in his first season with the club.
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Establishing himself as a reliable squad player for City during his three-year spell, Talbot made 21 appearances for Aurelio Vidmar’s side this season as City finished second during the regular season before then winning a second Isuzu UTE A-League Championship care of a 1-0 win over rivals Melbourne Victory in this season’s historic Grand Final.
“I’d like to thank everyone involved at the Club, as well as the fans, for taking me in from the start as one of their own,” he said.
“What a season we’ve just had with all the injuries and the resilience we had to show. I’m absolutely thrilled to have played my role in it and to have been part of something truly special.
“This club has shown me what it takes to be part of a Championship-winning team, and I leave with great experience having learnt so many lessons.”
Having initially been first-choice right back at City, Talbot found himself competing with both Socceroo Nathaniel Atkinson and Argentinian defender German Ferreyra for a starting berth this season and will now look elsewhere in search of regular first-team football.
“Callum has been an important member of our squad over the last three years and played a key role in both our 2022-23 Premiership and this season’s Championship win,” said Melbourne City’s Director of Football Michael Petrillo.
“We thank him for his contributions at City and wish him all the best for the next steps in his career.”
Talbot becomes the fourth player to leave City in the wake of their Championship triumph as the club begin to re-shape their squad ahead of next season’s title defence.
Steven Ugarkovic is now a free agent after spending two years in Melbourne while academy prospects Harry Politidis and Arion Sulemani have also both left, with the latter joining Perth Glory on a multi-year deal.
However the club has also been busy re-signing players for the upcoming campaign, with talented young striker Max Caputo putting pen-to-paper on a new three-year deal while experienced defender Samuel Souprayen is also now contracted for the 2025-26 campaign.
