Thomas Aquilina | |
Fullname: | Thomas Kevin Aquilina |
Birth Date: | 2 February 2001 |
Birth Place: | Camden, Australia |
Position: | Right back |
Currentclub: | Newcastle Jets |
Clubnumber: | 39 |
Youthclubs1: | Blacktown Spartans |
Youthclubs2: | FNSW NTC |
Youthyears3: | 2015-2017 |
Youthclubs3: | Western Sydney Wanderers |
Years1: | 2017–2022 |
Caps1: | 32 |
Goals1: | 2 |
Clubs1: | Western Sydney Wanderers NPL |
Years2: | 2019 |
Caps2: | 1 |
Goals2: | 0 |
Clubs2: | → Sutherland Sharks (loan) |
Years3: | 2020–2022 |
Caps3: | 40 |
Goals3: | 0 |
Clubs3: | Western Sydney Wanderers |
Years4: | 2022–2023 |
Caps4: | 12 |
Goals4: | 0 |
Clubs4: | Central Coast Mariners |
Years5: | 2023– |
Caps5: | 27 |
Goals5: | 0 |
Clubs5: | Newcastle Jets |
Club-Update: | 29 April 2024 |
Thomas Kevin Aquilina (born 2 February 2001) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a right back for the Newcastle Jets.
Aquilina attended Bossley Park High School where he was enrolled into the selective Talented Football Program.
Aquilina is of Maltese descent.
Aquilina's professional football career began at the Western Sydney Wanderers, having come through their youth program, starting in the U15 squad in 2015.[1] Aquilina made his A-League debut in the first round of the 2020-21 season, and had reportedly attracted interest from European clubs by the end of his first season.[2] Aquilina spent a second season at the Wanderers, before departing after 42 appearances at the end of the 2021-22 season.[3]
Having departed Western Sydney Wanderers, Aquilina joined the Central Coast Mariners for the 2022-23 season.[4] Aquilina cited his reason for his move as an opportunity to build his career with the Mariners towards a move to a European club, given the Mariners had a strong recent track record of sending their talented players to play in Europe.[5]
Aquilina made 13 appearances for the Mariners across all competitions, before departing mid-way through his first season with the club.[6]
Aquilina's departure from the Mariners came via a swap deal with the Newcastle Jets, which saw Aquilina join the Jets in exchange for James McGarry heading to the Central Coast.[7] The Mariners and Jets share a fierce rivalry, the F3 Derby, making this a controversial move for both players involved.