Three days before HFX Wanderers play their first home match in the Canadian Premier League, the club has announced the signing of defender Matthew Arnone.
Arnone, 25, was a key part of the dominant Vaughan Azzurri team that won the league and cup double last year in League1 Ontario.
The centre-back from Woodbridge, Ontario spent the past five months training with Italian club Vis Artena in Rome before being contacted by the Wanderers.
“It feels great it all happened so quickly but I’m happy to be here,” Arnone said. “I feel at home in Halifax already and it’s something special for the first day.”
Wanderers coach Stephen Hart said he has admired Arnone going back to his time with York University. He also had a spell with the North Carolina FC’s under-23 team.
? PLAYER SIGNING ALERT?
? Let’s give Matthew Arnone a warm East Coast welcome to the club.
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— HFX Wanderers FC (@HfxWanderersFC) May 1, 2019
“He has good versatility, he can play on the left side of central defence and is very good in the air and also he can play through the midfield,” said Hart.
“The fact I can come back and play in my country, I’ve got goosebumps talking about it, it’s super special for me and my family,” Arnone said.
“I’m a technical player for a big guy and I like to let the ball do the work, I like to keep things simple and win balls and do the dirty work,” said the defender.
He’s signed for the Wanderers pending the completion of a medical.