Sydney FC have handed young goalkeeper Gus Hoefsloot a new three-year professional contract in a move that will also see him wear the the club’s number one jersey next season.
Joining the club at 12 years of age, 19-year-old Hoefsloot has now put pen-to-paper on a long-term deal with the club believing they’ve secured the future of one of Australia’s top goalkeeping talents.
Furthermore, following the departure of goalkeeping icon Andrew Redmayne, Hoefsloot will also now become the youngest goalkeeper in club history to wear the number one jersey as he competes with incumbent shotstopper Harrison Devenish-Meares for a spot between the sticks next season.
“Signing my first professional contract with the club I’ve loved since I was a kid is honestly a dream come true,” said Hoefsloot after signing his new deal.
“From the first day I pulled on the Sydney FC shirt seven years ago, I knew this was where I belonged.
“To be signing professionally and following in the footsteps of my mentor Andrew Redmayne and wearing the number 1 jersey, aged 19 is a huge honour.
He continued: “I know the responsibility that comes with it, and I’m ready to step up and do everything I can to push for a starting spot.
“Harrison [Devenish-Meares] is a great guy, but I want to put real pressure on him this season and prove I’m ready to help the team win.
“I’m so thankful to all the coaches I’ve had here over the years — from the Academy right up to Ufuk and the first team staff.
“They’ve shown amazing faith in me, and I’m determined to repay that trust with hard work, strong performances, and a real hunger to succeed.”
Whilst he is yet to make his senior debut for the club, Hoefsloot was a member of the first team squad in season 2024-25 and is now expected to be given a chance to compete for a starting birth next season.
“Gus is the best young goalkeeping prospect in the country,” said Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay.
“He’s got the composure, confidence and technical quality well beyond his years, and he’s already shown that on the international stage.
“He’s been part of our system for seven years and his progress has been outstanding.
“We believe in him immensely — he’s got the mentality to succeed and he’ll be pushing hard for the number one spot this season.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how far he can go.”
The 19-year-old has played ten times for the Sydney FC NPL squad this season, keeping four clean sheets, whilst he was also a member of the Australian squad that was victorious at the AFC U20 Asian Cup earlier this year.
