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Exclusive: Watford's Tom Ince Set for A-League Move? Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory Interested

Tom Ince may be heading to Australia to play for Perth Glory or Melbourne Victory this summer. The experienced midfielder has struggled for game time at Watford and could be a free agent soon. Several other UK players have made successful moves to the A League in recent years.

Shane MacDermott
S. MacDermott

Last updated: 2026-02-12

Louis Hobbs

2 minutes read

Watford v Birmingham City - Sky Bet Championship

Watford v Birmingham City - Sky Bet Championship by Leila Coker | Getty Images

Tom Ince will be offered the chance to play in Australia in the summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

The 34-year-old is out of contract at Watford at the end of the season. 

And our sources have been told both Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory are both interested in the midfielder’s services. 

Ince has made over 400 appearances in the Championship, but has found opportunities at Vicarage Road limited this season. 

The former Liverpool youngster has scored four league goals in 19 appearances this term, but the majority of those have come off the bench. 

Ince, a former £10million signing for Stoke, was back in the starting line-up towards the end of Javi Gracia’s reign at the club but was relegated back to the bench for the games against Hull City and Southampton after the Spaniard’s shock resignation. 

It is understood the player will wait to see how new boss Edward Still, brother of former Southampton boss Will, sees his role at the club before making a decision about his future.

There is thought to also be suitors in the Championship for the experienced midfielder’s services should he become a free agent in the summer. 

Back in November, Ince was linked with a contract extension at Watford that would have included a potential coaching role, but while talks haven’t progressed since, such an option could still be on the cards.

Appealing Destination

A number of players have swapped the UK for the A League in recent years. 

Former Chelsea and Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata is enjoying life at Melbourne Victory after a stint at Western Sydney Wanderers. 

Ryan Fraser, the former Scotland international who played at Bournemouth and Newcastle in the Premier League, joined Western Sdyney earlier this year.

Former Derby County stalwart Tom Lawrence and ex QPR ace Luke Amos both play for Perth Glory. 

Following helping Nottingham Forest get promoted to the Premier League, Joe Lolley swapped the midlands club for Sydney FC, where he has gone on to make over 100 appearances.  

Shane MacDermott
Shane MacDermottSports Writer

Shane is a seasoned sports journalist and one of the most recognisable voices in the snooker pressroom. From Ronnie O’Sullivan to Zhao Xintong, he has sat down with the sport’s biggest names and broken hundreds of front-page national stories.

Alongside his work for SportsBoom, Shane regularly freelances for national outlets including the Daily Mirror, Daily Express, and Daily Star.

While cricket is Shane’s true passion, particularly Test cricket, he keeps it largely separate from his professional work. But don’t expect him to be sold on The Hundred as the future of the game.