Wellington Phoenix have replaced the A-League’s most prolific player with one of the unluckiest after the recruitment of defender Luke DeVere.
Central defender DeVere will effectively cover the departure of Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante, after he agreed to a one-season deal with the Kiwi club.
The 29-year-old DeVere will hope the move results in a change of fortune after being dogged by knee problems over the past five seasons with Brisbane Roar, having made just 45 appearances.
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The one-time Socceroo managed only five games last season as his second spell at the Roar concluded, having begun his A-League career there from 2008-11 before four seasons with Korean club Gyeongnam FC.
DeVere’s lone appearance for Australia came in a 2-2 friendly draw with Germany in 2015.
“It’s easy to continue playing in an environment you feel comfortable in,” he said.
“But I feel that I always rise to a new challenge and I’m looking forward to beginning this journey in Wellington.”
Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay described DeVere as among the most accomplished centre-backs in the competition.
Durante, who has made an A-League-record 313 appearances, announced his Phoenix exit earlier this month and has since signed with expansion club Western United FC.
Wellington on Monday confirmed that New Zealand international defender Tom Doyle had departed after five seasons of service.
It means just seven players have been retained from the 2018-19 squad that finished sixth before they bowed out in the first week of the finals.