A-League Men: Perth Glory snap up attacker Jaiden Kucharski days after leaving embattled Western United

After a long-winded pursuit, Perth Glory have signed Sydney FC young gun Jaiden Kucharski, ending a rollercoaster few months for the promising attacker. Just days after Kucharski parted ways with Western United — the club he agreed to join over Glory in the off-season — the 23-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with Perth. Perth had come close to securing Kucharski’s signature towards the end of last season, but he opted for United. However, the A-League club’s financial woes have seen its licence withdrawn by Football Australia, and the club will fold unless its appeal is successful. Further complicating matters for Kucharski was a registration placed upon Western United by the world governing body FIFA, related to a pay dispute with former striker Aleksandar Prijovic, which prevented him from playing for the club upon his off-season arrival. With the writing seemingly on the wall about Western’s future, Kucharski and his agent — former Glory great Shane Smeltz — secured a release from his contract, paving the way for him to head to Perth. “It was quite stressful, it was tough. When we made the decision last season to go to Western, we thought everything was going to plan, and then with the registration ban, it swayed things,” Kucharski told The West Australian. “We wanted everything to work out; we tried to give the club as long as possible to get that done, but to further my career, we couldn’t delay too long.” Kucharski played 62 games over three seasons for Sydney, who he supported growing up, but only started three matches last campaign. Sky Blues fans were saddened to see him go and felt Kucharski, like fellow promising attacker Adrian Segecic, who scored 13 goals in just 14 starts, deserved more playing time. Their loss is Glory’s gain, with Perth coach David Zdrilic knowing Kucharski during his time as an assistant at Sydney, and the youngster felt a reunion was the right move. “It’s the right fit for me, a similar playing style with two nines. I know the coaching staff quite well, and they’ve told me how they want to play, and it will suit my game very well,” Kucharski said. “(Zdrilic) knows what I’m capable of. He likes my pressing style, he knows I can score goals, and that’s what they’re looking for here. They want to score more goals this season, and I think I can bring that.” Kucharski, who left boyhood club Sydney in the off-season, said he was saddened by what was happening at Western United and hoped they would be able to prolong their A-League stay. “The club was unbelievable. Everything made me feel very welcomed, so yes, it was stressful off the field, but on the field, they just made it as if nothing was happening,” he said. “With everything going on, it’s a difficult time for the club, and just to feel I’ve left at a bad period for them, it’s nothing against them, or the club or the fans. “I couldn’t wait too long, and we tried to give the club as long as possible to get the registration through, and in the end, it didn’t go as planned.” Kucharski is also excited by the prospect of playing alongside Socceroos striker and Glory skipper Adam Taggart. “He’s been an icon of this league for so long at striker, so if I can learn a pinch of what he can do, it’s going to progress my career, make me a better player. “Hopefully I can accommodate him, his style as well and score a lot of goals this season.”