Melbourne Victory announced that their youngster Pierce Waring departed the club today.

“Waring decided it was the right time in his career to test himself overseas,” the A-League side revealed on their official website.

Waring is thought to already be in Osaka as he posted an Instagram story from the airplane flying from Sydney to Osaka yesterday.

There have been reports suggesting that Cerezo Osaka are keen to sign the 185cm-tall forward, who had a trial with them last month. Waring was born to an Australian father and a Japanese mother so he is seen to be eligible to play as a domestic player until he is asked to choose either nationality at the age of 22.

Sports Nippon related this potential signing with another potential transfer of Yoichiro Kakitani, putting “Cerezo Osaka, who may lose Kakitani, are eager to sign former Australian Under-17 forward” on the headline of their article, but both should be taken as separate deals.