Looking back: Our World Cup squad's transfers in 2022

Of our 26-man FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Squad, 15 made moves throughout the 2022 calendar year. 

With the January transfer window set to open very soon, which Aussie could you see making a move? 

As we farewell 2022, check out our roundup of all the Subway Socceroos' transfers this year. 

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Aaron Mooy: Shanghai Port to Celtic

Aaron Mooy signed for Celtic in July and linked up with fellow Aussies Ange Postecoglou and Harry Kewell.

The 31-year-old joined the reigning Scottish Champions on a two-year deal, returning to the league where he once represented St Mirren over a decade ago. 

Since then, Mooy has amassed over 50 caps for his country, and enjoyed a productive period in the English Premier League with both Huddersfield Town and Brighton & Hove Albion. 

Mooy made 23 appearances for Chinese outfit Shanghai Port before moving to Scotland. 

Mooy worked his way into Celtic's first team during the lead up to the FIFA World Cup, notably taking to the pitch in the UEFA Champions League against the likes of Real Madrid and RB Leipzig.  

aaron mooy celtic

Maty Ryan: Real Sociedad to FC Copenhagen

Maty Ryan signed a two-year deal with Danish Superliga champions F.C. Copenhagen after a season in LaLiga with Real Sociedad.

Having made nine appearances in all competitions last season at Real Sociedad, the 30-year-old joined the club and immediately helped them qualify for the UEFA Champions League. 

Awer Mabil: FC Midtjylland to Cádiz CF

Awer Mabil signed for Cádiz on a free transfer in May.

The 26-year-old joined the LaLiga outfit on a four-year deal that will saw him fulfil a lifelong dream of playing in Spain's top flight.

Mabil spent the back-end of last season on loan in Turkey with Kasimpasa, as the final six months of his contract with Danish side FC Midtjylland expired.

He made over 100 appearances in Denmark, including the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League, where he joined an illustrious list of Australians who have scored in Europe's top club competition.

Ajdin Hrustic: Eintracht Frankfurt to Hellas Verona

Hrustic signed for Serie A side Hellas Verona on a four-year deal after a successful two-year stint with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The move saw Hrustic trade Germany for Italy, where he featured and scored a penalty in the shootout as the Bundesliga side lifted the UEFA Europa League last season.

Throughout his time in Frankfurt, Hrustic made 33 appearances, scoring three goals.

Martin Boyle: Al Faisaly to Hibernian 

Boyle returned to Scotland just seven months after transferring to Saudi Arabian side Al-Faisaly.

While Boyle scored four goals and registered two assists in 19 appearances for Al-Faisaly, the side were relegated at the end of their season so Hibs jumped at the opportunity to bring him home. 

Before departing Hibs in January, Boyle scored 14 goals in all competitions and finished as the club's top scorer and now he's making his mark in the new season. 

Boyle had not played for six weeks prior to his Hibs return but it did not take him long to re-open his account. 

He returned to the Scottish Premier League in style as he came off the bench to score a last-minute equaliser against arch-rivals Hearts in front of a full house at Easter Road.

Despite originally being named in Australia's FIFA World Cup squad, the forward received news of a serious knee injury that will unfortunately rule him out for the remainder of the season. 

Danny Vukovic: NEC Nijmegen to Central Coast Mariners

Danny Vukovic returned to the Central Coast Mariners in August.

The 37-year-old put pen to paper on a deal that sees him return to the club where he made his A-League debut and 104 appearances from 2005 to 2010. 

Vukovic enjoyed a successful spell with Belgian club Genk before moving to NEC Nijmegen in June last year but he did not make an appearance for the Dutch Eredivisie club. 

Having been a part of the Socceroos 2018 squad in Russia and with a World Cup on the horizon, the chance to return home was too good to refuse.

Aziz Behich: Giresunspor to Dundee United 

Aziz Behich is plying his trade for Dundee United this season, after sealing a two-year deal with the Scottish club in July. 

The 31-year-old is enjoying a fresh challenge after playing over 200 times in the Turkish Super Lig, where he first signed with Bursaspor in 2013. 

Behich has impressed for Dundee United so far this campaign. 

Aziz Behich

Kye Rowles: Central Coast Mariners to Heart of Midlothian

Kye Rowles put pen to paper on a three-year deal at Hearts, joining from Central Coast Mariners in June.

Rowles began his professional career with Brisbane Roar in 2016 before moving on a year later to join Mariners, where he racked up 107 appearances.

Hearts have a strong tradition of Australians past and present donning their colours - with Socceroo Nathaniel Atkinson and Olyroo Cammy Devlin both with the club. 

Kye Rowles hearts

Garang Kuol - Central Coast Mariners to Newcastle United 

18-year-old Garang Kuol is headed to the English Premier League in January after signing with Newcastle United.

Kuol has shot to stardom since making his senior Mariners debut in December last year with a move to the Toon one of many milestone's in the youngster meteoric rise.

Kuol netted six times in 16 A-League appearances for Central Coast earning himself a spot in the Socceroos FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM  squad and becoming the second youngest player to appear at a World Cup after Brazilian legend Pele.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has expressed his excitement after signing a “young player of huge potential” which showed the club’s ambition to sign young players and develop them in the club’s system.

Nathaniel Atkinson - Melbourne City to Hearts

Nathaniel Atkinson became the second of Hearts current crop of Aussies when he swapped AAMI Park for Tynecastle in January.

Atkinson made the move after 75 appearances for Melbourne City which included a Championship, Premiership, Grand Final goal and Joe Marston Medal in his final full season at the club.

The 23-year-old, who started in the Socceroos World Cup opener against France in Qatar has made 33 appearances for Hearts, scoring three times.
 

Keanu Baccus - Western Sydney Wanderers to St Mirren 

Keanu Baccus signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premier League outfit St Mirren following the expiry of his contract at Western Sydney Wanderers at the end of the 2021/22 season.

The midfielder who was part of the Olyroos squad at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics made over 100 appearances for the Wanderers after debuting in 2016.

Baccus was used as a substitute in Australia's first three games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, before making his first senior international start in Australia's loss in the round of sixteen to Argentina.

The 24-year-old has made 16 appearances for the Saints, scoring two goals. 
 

Thomas Deng - Urawa Red Diamonds to Albirex Niigata 

25-year-old defender, Thomas Deng made the move from Urawa Red Diamonds to Albirex Niigata in January.

Deng featured just twice in the J1 League with Urawa Red Diamonds in 2021, but did star for the Olyroos as captain at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Deng, who won two A-League Men Championships during his time at Melbourne Victory now has his first title abroad after winning the J2 League with Albirex Niigata who were crowned champions with one match to spare.
 

Milos Degenek - Red Star Belgrade to Columbus Crew

Milos Degenek made the move to the MLS in January, joining Columbus Crew after departing Serbian powerhouses Red Star Belgrade.

The 28-year-old who has also played his club football in Germany, Serbia, Japan and Saudi Arabia made 28 appearances in the Crew’s defence during the 2022 MLS season.

Capped 41 times by the Socceroos, the defender appeared in all four of the Socceroos games at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
 

Riley McGree - Charlotte FC to Middlesbrough FC

Riley McGree signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with EFL Championship club Middlesbrough in January, departing MLS side Charlotte FC for an undisclosed fee.

The 24-year-old who'd spent two seasons at Birmingham City prior to his move to Boro played for Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City during his time in the A-League.

The midfielder has appeared for Boro 25 times, scoring four goals so far this season.

Jason Cummings - Dundee to Central Coast Mariners 

Jason Cummings arrived down under in January when he signed for the Mariners on an 18 month deal from Dundee FC in Scotland.

The forward has netted 14 times from 30 A-League appearances for the Mariners to date with his strong form domestically earning him a Socceroos call-up.

Cummings scored from the penalty spot on debut against New Zealand in September before facing France at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.