Hungary for success, Socceroo Arzani returns to Europe

Arzani, 26, will join a club involved in Champions League qualifiers as he tries to kick on from two strong years at Victory, where he reached two grand finals and found the form required to return to the Socceroos fold.

"My time at Melbourne Victory has been incredibly rewarding," said Arzani, who had also been linked to Scottish club Hearts.

"The club has played a key role in my growth both on and off the pitch over the past couple of seasons, allowing me to enjoy my football and do what I do best."

The winger will attempt to kick on and cement his spot ahead of next year's World Cup.

Arzani was famously a teen sensation who signed for Manchester City after bursting on to the scene with Melbourne City and appearing at the 2018 World Cup.

But an ACL tear in his first loan stint, at Celtic, started a horror four years of bouncing around Europe at different clubs.

Arzani had difficult loan stints at Celtic, Dutch team Utrecht, Danish club AGF and Belgian club Lommel, before returning to the A-League Men with Macarthur FC.

He joined Victory ahead of the 2023-24 season under now-Socceroos boss Tony Popovic.

Across 64 appearances, Arzani notched seven goals and 12 assists for Victory and was show-stopping at his dynamic best while clearly improving his fitness.

Arzani's departure follows talented fullback Kasey Bos leaving Victory for German Bundesliga club Mainz.

"We are proud of the way Melbourne Victory has been able to kick-start Daniel's career over the past two seasons and enabled him to re-establish himself as an exciting and entertaining talent in Australia, while also earning call-ups with the Socceroos, who as we know are now on the path to the FIFA World Cup 2026," Victory football director John Didulica said.

"We thank Daniel for the role he played in helping the club reach consecutive A-League Men's grand finals and hope his upward trajectory can continue in Europe."

Australian Associated Press