Sydney FC sell young star to Major League Soccer club in record deal

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Leading Australian youth national team player Jake Girdwood-Reich, 20, has left his boyhood club Sydney FC to join Major League Soccer side St. Louis City FC. Reportedly, the young centre back was sold for $1.3 million, a record breaking fee for Sydney FC.  

Girdwood-Reich joins St. Louis City FC 

Sydney FC announced early on Tuesday morning that the club had agreed to transfer Jake Girdwood-Reich to MLS side St. Louis City FC.  
 
Girdwood-Reich, 20, broke into the Sydney FC senior squad late last season after successfully converting from a midfielder into a centre back.  
 
“Sydney FC Academy graduate Jake Girdwood-Reich is moving on to the next stage of his career after the Sky Blues agreed a club record transfer fee with Major League Soccer (MLS) Western Conference Champions St Louis City SC,” The Sky BLues said via a statement.  
 
“The midfielder-cum-defender, who turned 20 last week, heads to the United States after eight years as a Sydney FC player, having joined the Sky Blues Academy aged 12.”  

Sydney FC sell young star for record fee to St. Louis City FC 

Neither club has revealed exactly how much St. Louis City paid for Girdwood-Reich. However, the Sky Blues did reveal that the deal was a record breaking one for the club.  
 
“The seven-figure transfer fee is a club record for an out-going player and makes Girdwood-Reich Sydney FC’s first million-dollar-plus transfer,” the club said.  
 
Other reports on the deal claim the fee was for $1.3 million. If true, this makes Girdwood-Reich the second most expensive U21 player sold from the A-League since the 2021/22 season, just behind Jordan Bos’ $2.1 million move from Melbourne City to KVC Westerlo last July.  

Girdwood-Reich says goodbye 

In his outgoing message from Sydney FC, Girdwood-Reich took the time to thank the club and Sky Blue fans for supporting him since he was 12-years-old in the club’s academy.  
 
“I love this club, I started here as a 12-year-old so I’m sad and very emotional to be leaving but incredibly thankful for what Sydney FC has done for me over the past eight years,” Girdwood-Reich said.  
 
“I’ve got so many great memories, winning the Australia Cup was an unbelievable feeling and getting my first contract was the best thing I’ve experienced in my life. 
 
“It was always my dream to go through the Sydney FC Academy, to play regularly in the A-League and then give it a try overseas. 
 
“The education I’ve had here has prepared me for that and will help me enormously on my football journey.” While the transfer was agreed to this Tuesday, Girdwood-Reich will not be available for selection in St. Louis until the MLS summer transfer window opens on July 18.