SAMMY Silvera set the A-League alight during his maiden season for the Central Coast Mariners before the winger was snapped up by Portuguese club Pacos de Ferreira.
After a year in Portugal, Silvera is back to make a mark in the A-League, this time at the Jets.
Hot on the heels of signing Brazilian No.10 Daniel Penha and Cameroon international Olivier Baumal, the Jets have secured Silvera on a one-year loan from his parent club, where he is contracted until June 2023.
The 20-year-old replaces Joey Champness, who has secured a move to Turkish club Giresunspor.
Champness, who has a year left on his Jets contract but hasn't played for the club since April 2019, was unveiled by Giresunspor on Friday. However, the Newcastle Herald understands that the deal, although agreed to, is yet to be completed.
A product of Westfield Sports High in Sydney, Silvera split his time in Portugal on loan at second-tier clubs, Casa Pia Atlético Clube and A.D. Sanjoanense.
Newcastle Jets forward Joey Champness has joined Turkish first-division club Giresunspor. [@Giresunspor]pic.twitter.com/LJKjaGAUqe
— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) August 19, 2021
Jets coach Arthur Papas was "very pleased" to have nabbed the 20-year-old.
"He naturally prefers playing as a right winger but is also comfortable on the left or through the centre and adds a lot of pace and creativity to our attack," Papas said.
After successfully trialing with the Mariners, Silvera starred in the FFA Cup before scoring a wonder goal in his A-League run-on debut against Perth in round four of the 2019-20 season.
His performances earned a rave review from former Socceroo and Fox Sports expert Robbie Slater.
"This kid for me, out of the whole lot of (young players) we've seen this season, is the best one out of the whole lot," Slater said. "Even though he's raw and just coming in, he looks so composed, so mature. Even when they were under the pump there were times he took the ball and he still looked not in a hurry, he's one of those players that looks like he's got a bit of time on the ball."
Silvera is due to leave Portugal on Sunday and faces 14 days quarantine before joining the squad.
His addition takes the squad to 22 players, including scholarship-holders Archie Goodwin and Blake Archbold, and Cameron Devlin, who is awaiting a visa for the UK to complete a move to Scottish club Hearts.
Silvera will be part of a new-look front third, featuring imports Beka Mikeltadze, Penha and Baumal as well as 2020-21 players Valentino Yuel, Kosta Petratos, Goodwin and Archbold.
Mikeltadze, a 23-year-old Georgian international, arrived in Sydney on Friday and has started 14 days quarantine.
A-League clubs can have up to 23 senior players on their roster, plus three scholarship players.
Former Socceroos striker Eli Babalj and Papua New Guinean international Tommy Semmy are on training contracts, with a view to joining the roster.
Meanwhile, the four Jets players required to undergo 14 days isolation after visiting an identified COVID case location are back at training.
