Mark Birighitti: Dundee Utd move from Central Coast Mariners has keeper eyeing World Cup spot
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Mark Birighitti is "buzzing" to have agreed a move to Dundee United from Central Coast Mariners as the goalkeeper looks to cement a place in Australia's World Cup finals squad.
United have confirmed the transfer for an undisclosed fee announced earlier this week by the A-League club.
The 31-year-old has signed a two-year contract subject to a work permit.
"I'm ambitious and I want to do well for the team and see what happens with regards to Australia," he says.
"When I heard United were interested, it was a no-brainer. I've done my research and they are a very historic club. I've got a really good feeling about this move."
Birighitti, who earned his only cap in 2013 but been named in numerous squads, including the 2014 World Cup finals, had earlier told Mariners' website that he had "insisted the club accept this deal" as it was such a good opportunity and it meant he and his wife could be closer to her family in the UK.
"It's a long way from home, but I've played in Europe before in England and in the Netherlands and I was always keen to get back here," he now tells United's website.
Birighitti played for Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Varese in Italy's Serie B before spending two years each with Swansea City and NAC Breda.
Although he failed to play first-team football in the Premier League, he turned out 16 times for the Dutch top-flight outfit before returning to his homeland with Melbourne City then Central Coast in 2019.
The Perth native named the A-League's goalkeeper of the year two campaigns running, and who made 31 appearances for Mariners last season as they finished fifth in Australia's top flight, said the club "tried everything to convince me to stay".
United were looking for a new goalkeeper after first-choice Benjamin Siegrist was snapped up by Celtic while back-up Trevor Carson was sold to St Mirren.
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