Neill to Galatasaray only four months after we sign him on a free. This is probably a good move seeing he won't get any time when we have all our defenders back, especially if we sign someone like Senderos.
Surprised a few here as well, a lot of Dutch blokes at Galatasary, including Socceroos 2006 staff member Johan Neeskens
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/lucas-neill-confirms-move-to-galatasaray/story-e6frf9if-1225819430521
Lucas Neill confirms move to Galatasaray
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AAP
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From:
AAP
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January 14, 2010
9:31PM
SOCCEROOS captain Lucas Neill has
signed an 18-month contract to join Australian teammate Harry Kewell at
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Having
only joined English Premier League club Everton in September last year,
Neill is on the move again for an undisclosed transfer fee, although
there have been reports the deal was done for around $A1.4 million.
The
move has been mooted for some time, but the 31-year-old Neill only
agreed to personal terms with Galatasaray on Thursday morning (AEDT).
"I
am delighted to have signed with Galatasaray and play for such a big
club with big ambitions in European football," Neill said in a
statement.
"Galatasaray have a fantastic squad and I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead."
Neill's deal with Everton was due to expire at the end of the current Premier League season.
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He
had been enjoying a solid run in the first team, but will now swap one
high-profile compatriot in star Toffees midfielder Tim Cahill with
Galatasaray striker Kewell.
Galatasaray have won the Super Lig
twice in the past four seasons and are currently in second place, one
point behind rivals Fenerbahce.
Neill will also reunite with
former Socceroos assistant Johan Neeskens, who is currently an
assistant to Frank Rijkaard at Galatasaray.
"This opportunity came from nowhere all of a sudden," Neill's manager Paddy Dominguez said.
"We
were quite surprised by the speed with which Everton and Galatasaray
agreed terms, but now that the deal has been concluded we are delighted
that Lucas' future is resolved and he can concentrate on his next
challenge with Galatasaray.
"Lucas looks forward to linking up with his new teammates very shortly."
Galatasaray
have no fewer than nine current Turkish internationals in their squad,
along with some notable international stars such as Kewell, Shabani
Nonda, Milan Baros, Leo Franco and Brazilian Elano.
Having led
Australia in their successful World Cup qualifying campaign, Neill will
return to home shores in May for final preparations ahead of the
tournament in South Africa.