One of the worst-kept secrets in Australian soccer is finally, officially out: Tim Cahill has signed for A-League's Melbourne City FC.
Talk of Cahill's arrival in A-League has consumed much of the Australian summer winter. The league has created its own version of the MLS "Beckham Rule" to land Australia's biggest soccer star, extending its "guest player" rule to allow for an additional big-money signing on the rosters of its clubs. Since that adjustment was made, the matter of Cahill coming home to play has been mostly a question of when, not if.
It has since been reported that Cahill's stint in A-League will be funded in part by the Australian football federation.