Sydney FC skipper Luke Brattan departs club after five years

Sydney FC captain Luke Brattan will leave the Harbour City club after five years, leaving a leadership void within a young Sky Blues side.

The club confirmed his departure on Friday following the end of his contract, with the 34 year-old expected to join fellow A-League Men side Macarthur FC.

Brattan joined Sydney from Melbourne City in 2019, and won the 2019/20 Premiership and Championship double with the club, before winning the Australia Cup in 2023.

“I’ve had an incredible time at Sydney FC and met some amazing people”, Brattan told the club’s website.

“It’s a great club, it means a lot to me and I will miss everyone involved, particularly our amazing Members who have given my family and I unbelievable support throughout my time here”.

His debut season with the club saw him set up the winning goal of the 2020 Grand Final, playing a diagonal ball which Rhyan Grant chested into the net.

Brattan was appointed the club’s captain in 2023 following the retirement of club legend Alex Wilkinson, but his exit has left him as the shortest-serving captain since Alessandro Del Piero a decade prior.

Prior to the season, Brattan had been linked with moves overseas which failed to materialise with Sydney rejecting offers.

Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay praised the holding midfielder as “an excellent leader”, before thanking him for his service to the club and looking towards the future.

“We will look to the future now and I’m excited to bring through our next generation of heroes and club captains”.

Veteran fullback Rhyan Grant deputised Brattan during the season, with Anthony Caceres and former Socceroos goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne also wearing the armband throughout the year.

Brattan made 119 appearances for the club, scoring three goals in all competitions.