Bani Yas’ return to the Arabian Gulf League has gained some championship-winning pedigree with the exciting capture of Melbourne Victory winger Leroy George on a one-year deal.

George, 31, was named Player of the Season by the A-League victors after he scored nine goals and notched 14 assists. But the former Netherlands Under-21 international could not agree an extension after an outstanding debut campaign upon arrival from Turkey’s Adana Demirspor, leading to the fielding of offers from across Asia.

The promoted Sky Blues officially won this chase on Saturday night. He joins Colombian midfielder Michael Ortega in becoming the club’s second foreign capture, after a loan deal for Ghanaian defender Abdul Kadiri Mohammed from Austria Wien was cancelled.

“Bani Yas signs with the Dutchman Leroy George for one year coming from the Australian team, Melbourne Victory,” they tweeted. “This is renewable for another season.”

George played for Utrecht from 2006-10, with whom he scored once in seven Jong Oranje caps. His career then took him to N.E.C., Azerbaijan’s Qarabag plus the Turkish duo of Goztepe and Adana, before gaining silverware Down Under.

Bani previously signed Australia star Mark Milligan from Victory in June 2015.

A number of promising domestic additions have also been made this summer under new coach, Krunoslav Jurcic.

These include UAE and Emirates Club centre forward Ahmed Malallah, Al Wasl playmaker Ahmed Al Shamisi, injury-prone Al Jazira utility man Salem Ali and the rehiring of centre midfielder Fawaz Awana from Al Nasr.