York United FC can confirm the signing of Australian defender Tass Mourdoukoutas.

The 23-year-old centre-back arrives after spending the past five years with A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. In total, he’s amassed 44 appearances across both the country’s top tier and domestic competition, the Australia Cup. He’s put pen to paper on a deal that runs through the end of 2023.

After cutting his teeth at the Football New South Wales Institute and Sydney Olympic’s youth team, he joined the Wanderers Academy in 2017 and made his senior debut for the club the following year. Over the next three seasons, Mourdoukoutas developed into a key part of the side and began to flourish. Between 2020 and 2022, he was coached at the Wanderers by former Vancouver Whitecaps boss Carl Robinson and last featured for the team just last month in a 1-1 draw with Macarthur FC, playing 90 minutes.

Along with his impressive club credentials, Mourdoukoutas also boasts nine caps for the Australia Under-23s and was a crucial ingredient in the team’s run to the AFC Under-23 Championship semi-finals in 2020.

“I am stoked to be able to join York United,” says the Sydney native.

“The fact they’re an ambitious club with a very well-organised and talented playing group are the main factors why I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to play over here. I’ve already watched a couple of games and can see the boss has us playing as a team, first and foremost. There’s a real solidarity there and that’s made us – and will continue to make us – very hard to beat.”

“With my qualities on the park, I want to help the team grow to new heights and also add to the already-instilled hunger within the group and the clear vision that’s been set out for the developing players. I’m so excited to have arrived in Toronto and am absolutely buzzing to meet all the Nine Stripes fans. I can’t wait to get going and play my part in pushing us to the top of the league, where this club belongs.”

According to Angus McNab, York United FC President/CEO & GM, club connections proved crucial in getting a detailed picture of Mourdoukoutas as a player.

“We are delighted to have secured Tass and have him join the club,” McNab says.

“Tass has some good experience in the A-League and we received some really positive feedback on him from Carl Robinson who worked with him at Western Sydney. Barry (Smith, York United FC Assistant Coach) also got really encouraging reports on him from guys he’d played with and who are now well connected in Australia.”

“The enthusiasm Tass has shown for the opportunity has been really fantastic. He messaged me wanting OneSoccer login details so he could watch the team and I know he watched the Whitecaps game from the airport before he flew on Wednesday night. That tells you a lot about the type of person he is. I’m looking forward to seeing him contribute impressively this season and beyond.”