Emirates club have signed Australian defender Zac Anderson on a two-year deal.
The centre-back, 25, becomes the Ras Al Khaimah club's first major acquisition since appointing Theo Bucker as manager last week.
A former Australia Under 20 and U23 representative, Anderson last featured for the A-League’s Sydney FC, but he departed the club in May following only nine appearances.
He made the majority of those in this year’s Asian Champions League, playing both legs of Sydney’s last-16 defeat to China’s Shandong Luneng. He was sent off late into the return fixture in Sydney.
Anderson began his senior professional career with Gold Coast United, making his A-League debut in 2009 before moving to Central Coast Mariners three years later. He helped the club win the 2012/13 A-League.
Anderson will now be charged with playing an integral role in Emirates’ resurgence as they seek to improve on last season’s 12-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League. They avoided relegation by a solitary point and possessed the joint-fourth worst defensive record in the division.
Anderson becomes Emirates’ first foreign recruit of the summer, with compatriot Brett Holman freeing up a space in the squad. The club’s management are considering a number of other options and have focused on the African market. Congolese midfielder Lema Mabidi, who plays for Morocco’s Raja Casablanca, has already been linked.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
