Dean Heffernan has joined his fourth A-League club having signed a one-year contract with the premiership holders, Western Sydney Wanderers, according to Fox Sports. The 33-year-old defender last played in the A-League with Perth Glory but was released at the end of the 2012/13 season. Heffernan has been with Dapto Dandaloo Fury of the Illawarra Premier League since mid-May, keeping fit.
At Western Sydney, Heffernan will rejoin Michael Beauchamp on the back line, with whom he played at Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Heart in the A-League, and FC Nürnberg in the Bundesliga. The Wanderers have a strong defense, featuring Beauchamp, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Adam D'Apuzzo, Iacopo La Rocca and Shannon Cole, so playing time will be more difficult to come by for Heffernan than it was at Perth last season.
If the Wanderers are to repeat the successes of 2012/13, which included allowing just 21 goals in 27 league games, adding depth with experience will be a key. Heffernan fits that description perfectly and should give Tony Popovic a reliable option if injuries or suspensions reduce the capacity of the regular starters. His ability to play in the midfield, as well, gives an extra degree of flexibility for Western Sydney.