Caltex Socceroos defender Matt Jurman has left South Korea to link up with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad, the club confirmed on Monday.
Jurman joins the Jeddah-based club – who have won the AFC Champions League twice – from K-League outfit Suwon Bluewings.
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The 28-year-old centre-back was part of the Caltex Socceroos squad at the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia but didn’t feature in any match in the group stage.
Jurman will be hoping to get plenty of game time in Saudi Arabia now as he looks to keep his spot in the Australian squad, with the 2019 AFC Asian Cup just six months away.
With Mark Milligan – who started all three matches in Russia at centre-back – likely to step away from international football, Jurman is a contender to partner Trent Sainsbury in defence in the UAE.
The pair started all four of the Caltex Socceroos’ playoff matches against Syria and Honduras late last year to ensure Australia’s qualification for 2018 FIFA World Cup™.