De Lima signs on for three-year scholarship

The Central Coast Mariners have signed 17-year-old forward Arthur De Lima to a three-year scholarship deal with the club.

De Lima joins Haine Eames in signing a three-year scholarship ahead of the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League season, after impressing in Academy fixtures and first team training.

An exciting forward with huge potential, De Lima started the season in the U20 side after joining from Brisbane Roar Academy.

He has since worked his way into the first-grade team, scoring six goals in his last six games as coach Lucas Vilela’s side have climbed the table in the second half of the season.

De Lima recently netted a hat-trick as Vilela’s side came from 2-0 down to beat Wollongong Wolves 3-2 at Pluim Park.

The 17-year-old says there is nowhere else he would rather be, also touching on his goals for the season as he steps up into the first team environment.

“I’m really happy to get this opportunity at this great club, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else to learn and grow,” he said.

“The Mariners is the club of opportunity.

“I have seen the players that have developed here, and I can’t wait to work my hardest to be the next one.

“I want to help the first team as much as possible and my goal is to make my debut this season.

“The first team boys are really welcoming, there are lots of young players and seeing how well they are doing gives me even more motivation to do just as well as them.”

Head coach Mark Jackson is delighted to secure another player of huge potential and was looking forward to working with him in coming seasons.

“Arthur has been exposed to first team training for a while now in pre-season and we have been closely watching his performances in the NPL,” Jackson said.

“He is a really exciting footballer and another one of our players with huge potential, so we are delighted to be able to offer him this scholarship and secure him.

“He’s a really humble young man who wants to work hard and he’s very driven to get better.

“He shows excellent ability on the ball but also good physical capability for a player of such a young age.

“We’re delighted to have him secured for the coming seasons and we’re looking forward to working with him.”