The reigning A-League men's champions the Central Coast Mariners have raced to sign a 17-year-old goalkeeper from Canberra after being "blown away" by the emerging star.
Dylan Peraic-Cullen has signed a scholarship deal with the club after being spotted during a Mariners trip to Canberra last year.
Peraic-Cullen had just turned 16 and turned heads while playing for the Capital All Stars in a pre-season match against the Mariners last August.
The Mariners would then go on to win their second A-League championship - but not before bringing Peraic-Cullen to the Central Coast.
He landed a place in the Mariners academy program and made his National Premier League first grade debut for the club last week.
Mariners coach Nick Montgomery says Peraic-Cullen has developed at a rapid rate under goalkeeper coach Miguel Miranda.
"Dylan is an exceptional talent and has massive potential. When we first saw him in Canberra last season, myself and the rest of the staff were blown away by his profile at sixteen years of age," Montgomery said.
"He is already training full time with the A-League squad and is developing at a rapid rate.
"This has come under the guidance of Miguel Miranda and what better mentor than Danny Vukovic for any young player."
