The Central Coast Mariners can confirm that Championship winning forward Samuel Silvera has signed with English Championship side Middlesbrough FC for a Mariners club record fee.
First joining the Central Coast Mariners in 2019 on a scholarship deal from Western Sydney Wanderers, Silvera featured on 21 occasions in the A-League in his first season with the club.
After this breakout campaign, the forward signed for Paços de Ferreira in Portugal, before spending time on loan with Casa Pia, Sanjoanense and Newcastle Jets.
Following a tough few years, Silvera opted to re-join the Mariners at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, aiming to find his best form under the eyes of Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo.
He did just that, ultimately playing a key role in our Championship winning campaign.
After scoring the Mariners’ first goal of the season, a long-range strike against Wellington Phoenix, the forward was a constant threat to defences right around the league.
Multiple “Man of the Match” displays, including scoring a double against the Jets to help us win the F3 Derby Trophy, saw Silvera labelled as one of the form players of the competition.
He left his best performance of the season for last, starring in our 6-1 Grand Final win over Melbourne City.
Silvera scored the second of the match after breezing past Nuno Reis and finding the back of the net, before helping to ice the game with an incredible outside of the boot assist for our fifth.
The forward finishes his second stint in Yellow and Navy with eight goals and five assists in 29 matches, along with an A-League Championship.
While disappointed to be losing the forward, Mariners head coach Nick Montgomery thanks Silvera for his time with the club and is excited to see him play in the Championship.
“For Sammy to have the opportunity to join a club like Middlesbrough is testament to the development of him both as a person and a player in such a short time. When we brought Sam back to the club he had been through a difficult few years of not playing many minutes of football and not really enjoying his football. I had no doubt of his potential and in the second half of this season he excelled and along with the other attacking players showed massive quality,” he said.
“As a club we are delighted for Sammy to provide him this pathway to Europe’s elite and to a club challenging for the Premier League. Sam had strong interest from a number of clubs around Europe and in Asia. Matt Simon negotiated offers around and in excess of Middlesbrough’s bid, but with Sammy’s desire to join the club and also be closer to his mum who lives in the UK, we worked together to make this happen. This move also shows the Mariners brand has become a real name around the world.”
Silvera is extremely proud of what he has been a part of with the club, wishing everyone the very best for the future.
“I just want to say thank you very much to everyone at the Central Coast Mariners. We together created some unbelievable moments that I will never forget and will always cherish,” he said.
“I am just super happy that I could help be a part of an amazing achievement for the club and for the community. I will always love this club and it will always have special place in my heart. Until next time Mariners family.”
