START-UP club Melbourne Heart have continued their raid on the Jets after Young Socceroos striker Jason Hoffman last night agreed to terms on a two-year deal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hoffman joins captain Matt Thompson, who signed a three-year deal with the new franchise last month.
Adam D'Apuzzo and Melbourne-born defender Ljubo Milicevic are also believed to be in the sights of the cashed-up Victorians.
Hoffman, who turns 20 later this month and is one of only four home-grown products at the Jets, had been in negotiations with Newcastle but said the opportunity for a fresh start was behind his decision to leave.
"I have lived in Newcastle my whole life," Hoffman said. "This is a chance for me to step out of my comfort zone and mature as a person and a player.
"Like every young footballer I want to go to Europe one day.
"This will test me to see if I can stand on my own two feet.
"Newcastle Jets have been great. They brought me up from the juniors and gave me an opportunity, but I need to move now."
One of the favourites under former coach Gary van Egmond, Hoffman has had limited opportunities this season.
He has not played first-team football since returning from the FIFA under-20 World Cup in October.
A Hamilton Olympic junior, Hoffman made his A-League debut at the age of 18.
He made 15 appearances in Newcastle's 2007-8 championship season and came off the bench in the grand final win over the Mariners.
His second season was derailed by a severe knee injury, but he bounced back in fine fashion during Newcastle's Asian Champions League campaign last year.
Hoffman scored the winning goal his first for the club in the Jets' final group game against Korean giants Ulsan Hyundai to secure the club's passage to the knockout stages of the tournament.
But his wayward finishing was a source of frustration for coaching staff and fans.
He has played 26 A-League games for the Jets but his only goals came with a brace against Wellington in a 3-2 home win in the first round of the season.
Earlier this season coach Branko Culina announced his intention to convert Hoffman to a wing-back.
Melbourne Heart coach John van't Schip said he was impressed by Hoffman's versatility.
"Jason is a player with great capacity to improve and become a regular first eleven player in the Hyundai A-League," van't Schip said. "He is an excellent professional who works very hard, which is the sort of player that we are hoping to bring to the club."
