Western Sydney Wanderers FC has confirmed the signing of midfielder Dean Pelekanos for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Pelekanos was formerly part of the Wanderers Academy and was the captain that led the first team to their historic promotion to the National Premier League (NPL) 1 competition.
In 2023, Pelekanos made the move from the Red & Black to St George City FA where he played for a year before making the move to Rockdale Ilinden.
At Rockdale, Pelekanos won the minor Premiership bringing silverware to Rockdale for the first time in over 40 years and more recently, featured in the NPL NSW Grand Final over the weekend.
Pelekanos is set to represent his local club for the first time in his senior career and said it was a dream come true.
“Spending my youth here was amazing, before I signed for the youth team, I was a season ticket holder, went to every game, a huge fan, and being able to spend my youth at the club was a great feeling. This club means everything to me, I was born and raised in Western Sydney, I am just as big a fan now at 23 than I was when I was a child,” Pelekanos said.
“My personal goals are to perform at the highest level on a consistent basis, and make sure to be connected to the fans and community as much as possible, for team goals we obviously want to be in the finals and win trophies, this club is massive and should be competing for trophies every year.
It’s what the fans deserve and are wanting, so being competitive and winning as much as possible is what me and all the boys should be wanting, not just for us, but for the whole of Western Sydney.”
Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Alen Stajcic said he was pleased to add Dean’s depth and quality to the squad this season.
“It’s great to bring a former Wanderers junior back to the club,” said Stajcic.
“Dean has excelled for Rockdale and provides added depth and quality to our midfield stocks.”
