The Central Coast Mariners are delighted to announce that 18-year-old goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen has signed his first professional contract, keeping the Australian junior representative on the Coast until at least the end of the 2026/27 season.
Peraic-Cullen arrived on the Coast at the beginning of the 2023 Academy season, after impressing for the Capital All-Stars against the Mariners in a 2022 pre-season friendly at just 16-years-old.
After being awarded a scholarship midway through 2023, the former Central Coast Sports College student continued to excel in our Academy, working closely with Mariners legend Danny Vukovic to develop his game.
Following our former-captain’s retirement and after a strong pre-season, the 18-year-old made his professional debut in Round One of the current Isuzu UTE A-League season against Melbourne Victory.
He kept a clean sheet on the night, becoming both our youngest ever starting goalkeeper, and the Isuzu UTE A-League’s youngest ever goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet when starting.
Peraic-Cullen has since retained the number one spot, playing six matches including two in the AFC Champions League Elite competition, keeping two clean sheets so far.
The goalkeeper also recently spent a week away with the Australian U23’s squad having been selected for their domestic training camp.
Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Mark Jackson is thrilled to be able to secure the goalkeeper’s future on the Coast.
“As a club we are delighted to secure the services of Dylan on a long-term contract. He is one of a number of young players that we have with us who have both exceptional talent and exceptional potential,” Jackson said.
“We want to secure our young players and help give them the platform to continue to get better and develop with us.”
The 18-year-old is excited to have signed a long-term contract with the Mariners and is eager to continue to learn and develop with the club under the tutelage of Danny Vukovic.
“It is a great feeling to have received a long-term contract with the Mariners, it shows the belief that the club and coaches have in me and I’m excited to continue my footballing journey on the Central Coast,” Peraic-Cullen said.
“Working with Vuka has been incredible. He was always helping us even when he was still playing, giving us advice, so to now have him coaching us full time, it has been great so far.
“Playing this season has been brilliant, getting the chance I wanted to grab it with both hands. I want to be consistent in my performances, play at a high level for the club and do something special with the team this season.”
