Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Ante Covic has signed for IF Elfsborg, the Swedish club have confirmed.
The 33-year-old, who had a previous spell in the Allsvenskan with Hammarby, will complete the deal after a medical at the weekend.
Covic made his final appearance for the Jets in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai in the Asian Champions League, and leaves a big hole for Gary van Egmond to fill.
Understudy Ben Kennedy will take over as number one for the remainder of the club’s Champions League group games at least, with Mark Bosnich and Nathan Coe being mooted as potential replacements.
Elfsborg coach Magnus Haglund is pleased with the signing of Covic, who won the 2008 A-League with Newcastle after returning to Australia in 2007.
He said: “He is a balanced and stable goalkeeper who radiates calm.
“He has a habit of dominating airspace and has great experience with over 100 Allsvenskan matches. He has played in the Australian national team and has played in Asian Champions League.”
The move to last season’s Allsvenskan runners-up should boost Covic’s claims for a recall to the Australian national side, for whom he has two caps and was a squad member at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
