Football transfer fees present another divisive moment for Australian game

Mat Ryan says he might never have had the opportunity to move to Europe under current Australian transfer rules. Photograph: Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images

It has been 12 years since Mat Ryan was given his first chance at senior professional football when, as an 18-year-old, he left Blacktown City and signed with the Central Coast Mariners. It was an opportunity which opened the door to Club Brugge, Valencia, Brighton and Real Sociedad. It was also an opportunity he believes might not have occurred under current rules.

“When you are taking your first step into professional football, clubs have to take a chance on you,” Ryan says. “If there was a big fee on my head the Mariners might have looked elsewhere and thought the risk was too high.”