Melbourne Victory and Australian Olympic centre-back Thomas Deng has earned a loan move to Dutch club PSV Eindhoven.
The Kenyan-born teenager will spend the 2016-17 season with the Eredivisie champions, who have an option to make his shift permanent.
Deng, 19, shot to prominence in Victory's last A-League campaign, impressing in 13 appearances for Kevin Muscat's side after a full debut in front of 40,000 fans in a Melbourne derby win.
It was enough to convince scouts at the European Cup-winning club he was worth a career opportunity on the continent.
He will play in PSV's youth side but has set his sights on their senior squad, which contains several full Dutch internationals.
"I have come here to become a better player and I hope I will be eventually invited to train with the first-team squad," Deng told the PSV's website.
Former club teammate Archie Thompson and Jason Culina are among Australians also to play for the Dutch outfit.
PSV football director Marcel Brands suggested a new deal would be forthcoming.
"He will be offered an opportunity to get used to life in the Netherlands and settle in and we are looking forward to offering him a new contract at the end of the season," he said.
PSV complete signing of Australian defender Deng on loan. Read more: https://t.co/hLR9s4mONz #PSV pic.twitter.com/0WoVpgOdZh
— PSV International (@psveindhoven) June 27, 2016
While Deng's shift is a terrific move for the emerging defender, his departure leaves another hole in Victory's squad.
He is the ninth senior player and fourth defender to depart since season's end, making it the biggest squad overhaul in Muscat's tenure.
Club best-and-fairest winner Matthieu Delpierre, Dylan Murnane, Giancarlo Gallifuoco and now Deng have left since Victory's elimination final loss in April.
Brisbane Roar stopper James Donachie is the only defender signed so far.
Despite the loss, Muscat said Victory delighted in Deng's progression.
"This as a great opportunity for Thomas to experience being part of one of Europe's biggest clubs for a season," he said.
"Everyone at the club has worked hard to help Thomas get to a level where he can perform consistently in the A-League and now it's about giving him the chance to experience European football to develop his game further.
"We will be watching from afar and wish him well."