"A perfect time" - Why Awer Mabil is back in the A-League Men
After a decade in Europe, Awer Mabil felt the time was right to return to the A-League Men with Melbourne City. And the Socceroo attacker is clear he's coming home to make an impact on- and off-field.
After a decade in Europe in which he was able to ‘achieve his dreams’, Awer Mabil felt that the time was right to return to the A-League Men with Melbourne City. The Socceroo attacker, however, is very clear that he’s also coming back home to make an impact, both on the pitch and with the next generation.
Mabil, 30, was officially unveiled as a City player on Wednesday afternoon after landing the previous evening, signing a three-year contract with the A-League Men heavyweights following stints with clubs across Denmark, Türkiye, Portugal, Switzerland, Czechia, and Spain – a run that saw him score in the Champions League with Midtjylland in 2020.
After earning a call-up to the Socceroos’ squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup for his play during Castellón’s ultimately unsuccessful push for promotion to La Liga, Mabil has bucked trends in returning to the A-League Men – the other five moves completed by members of the Socceroos squad made to destinations in Europe and Asia – but he felt it was right for him.
“I think it’s a perfect time to come back. When I went over to Europe, I had dreams that I wanted to achieve. And with hard work, I’ve been able to do that. I thought about the future and what I can do for the game in Australia. I think I’m at the perfect age to be able to make an impact. So I thought it was the right time to do that.
“I see the project that the City Group has, and everything that they’ve set up around the club. I’ve obviously had a few teammates from the Socceroos in the [City] squad; they’ve told me great things about the club. It just aligns; their ambition and my ambition really align at this time. I’m really looking forward, and also excited, for what’s ahead.”
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A product of South Australia, Mabil first came onto radars while at Campbelltown City and subsequently signed for Adelaide United, where he became one of the competition’s breakout young talents, helping the Reds to a 2014 Australia Cup title, before earning a move to Midtjylland on a deal reported to be worth more than $AUD 1million.
United fans had held out hope that any eventual homecoming by Mabil, as has been the (repeated) case with another Socceroo attacker in Craig Goodwin, would have seen him land at Hindmarsh Stadium. City, however, proved a more appealing project.
“Adelaide is my home, my family is there,” Mabil said. “But I also have to look for what gives me the best possibility to also win stuff. So the best choice for me, I think I’ve made the right choice in this moment of my career, and I am just looking forward to playing for this club and giving my very best for the fans and the whole group.”
Mabil is notable in that he was one of the first in an increasing wave of African talent to emerge from South Australia, with the likes of Thomas Deng, Tete Yengi, Mohamed Touré, and Nestory Irankunda also coming out of the City of Churches and becoming part of World Cup squads across the past two cycles.
And being able to inspire, as well as serve as an example, to the next generation of players, in their own backyard, was another key reason in Mabil’s desire to return home.
“One of the reasons is also to pass on my experience to the younger players,” he explained. “And also for my community. I think it’s important that I come back, because right now it’s easy to go for money. But for me, the most important thing is leaving a legacy or leaving a blueprint for the young ones to follow.
“Now I’ll be playing here in Australia, and hopefully in every state, there will be a lot of South Sudanese in every stadium. That, I’m excited about. Australia, in general, I want to play at home and inspire the next generation.
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“If [younger talent] are beating me, then I’ve done my job. The most important thing is to show an example. I think I’ve worked very hard to try to do that. I’m happy when I see everybody -- not just young Africans -- young Australian football players making that next step.
“Whether they got inspiration from other players or me, then that’s what we’re all here for. Because I feel like yesterday I was young also; it’s the cycle of football.”
Don’t get things mixed up, however, for as much as Mabil wants to reconnect with family – his younger brothers were children when he left for Europe and are now teenagers – as well as help inspire players and help grow the A-League, he also wants to do that while tasting as much success as possible, including winning a first-ever Australian title.
“I’m happy because when I went over to Europe, I had goals that I wanted to achieve, and I’ve achieved all that,” he explained. “Coming back here is not just to relax. I’m coming back here because I want to have new goals that I want to achieve.
“Obviously, I went over [to Europe] when I was very young, and I’ve achieved everything that I wanted to achieve in Europe. I want to come back here and do my very best, first to help the league, and then help my club win stuff, and then also inspire the next gen.”
This level of ambition also extends to the Socceroos, with Mabil joining fellow World Cup representatives Awer Mabil and Mathew Leckie on City’s books, eager to continue to pull on the Green and Gold.
“I’m 30, so it’s a perfect age. You can see now, people are going 40. I think right now, mentally, physically, it’s the peak, so I think I’m at the right stage,” Mabil noted.
“I spoke with Aziz and Lecks, and, as they would, they would sell the club. So, shout out to Aziz, shout out to Lecks. I have a great relationship with them, and I wanted to come home to leave a legacy; that I can do my very best while I still have my powers.”
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