A \u201csad\u201d Joe Lolley has parted ways with Sydney FC after four seasons.<\/p>\n
The off-contract English star\u2019s expected departure from the Sky Blues was confirmed on Monday, with the split described as a \u201cmutual decision\u201d.<\/p>\n
Lolley made 115 appearances in all competitions for the Sydneysiders, scoring 36 goals and winning the Mark Viduka Medal for his player-of-the match performance in the Sky Blues\u2019 3-1 2023 Australia Cup final win over Brisbane Roar at Allianz Stadium.<\/p>\n
However, the 33-year-old winger\u2019s 2025-26 campaign was hampered by hamstring and ankle injuries that limited him to only 11 A-League starts during the recently completed season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad,\u201d Lolley said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been an incredible part of my life and it\u2019s been an incredible dressing-room for four years, so many different people and characters, I\u2019ve met and friends for life.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s never nice having to miss those people and not being able to see those people as regularly as I do, but that\u2019s life as a footballer and something you do get used to … but I move on to my next chapter and I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lolley has previously been linked with moves to Perth Glory and Macarthur FC.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdeally I\u2019d like to stay in Australia and play football. I still feel like I can really contribute, and barring a few injuries, I feel like I\u2019m ready to prove myself again and I\u2019m up for whatever challenge comes my way,\u201d the former Nottingham Forest man said.<\/p>\n
Lolley\u2019s final appearance for Sydney was as a substitute in the Sky Blues\u2019 1-0 grand-final loss to Auckland FC last month at Go Media Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would have liked more team awards,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have reached two semi-finals and a final since I\u2019ve been here, and it would have been nice to cap it off this season and win the grand final, but overall, I think it has been successful and I\u2019ve loved every minute of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sky Blues coach Patrick Kisnorbo, who only took charge of Sydney in March, said Lolley had been \u201can outstanding servant\u201d to the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a player who sets high standards every day, whether that\u2019s in training, on matchday or around the dressing-room, and he has earned enormous respect from everyone at the club,\u201d Kisnorbo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis experience, professionalism and ability to influence games have been invaluable and he has played a significant role in helping drive standards within the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n