Olympic FC can confirm Jez Lofthouse has departed the club to sign a two-year contract with A-League side, Brisbane Roar.
Lofthouse leaves Olympic with immediate effect, linking up with the Roar ahead of the 2021/22 A-League season which is scheduled to kick off in November.
The 21-year-old forward achieved cult status during his time at Goodwin Park, scoring 44 goals and grabbing a further 34 assists in 114 appearances for the club.
Lofthouse’s four years at Olympic were laden with individual honours, in 2018 aged just 18, Lofthouse was crowned the NPL Queensland’s Young Player of the Year in what was his debut season in red and white.
The forward was also named in the league’s Team of the Season in each of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Lofthouse leaves Olympic as the club’s seventh most capped NPL Queensland player, with 99 league appearances to his name.
Lofthouse is the club’s third highest NPL Queensland scorer with only Danny Byrne and Tim Smits bettering his 35 goal haul, he also sits just a goal shy of Chris Lucas at the top of the club’s FFA Cup goalscoring charts with nine cup goals.
Lofthouse said he was incredibly thankful to all those who’d helped make his time at the club such a strong success.
“It’s been a great four years at Olympic and I want to thank everyone for all their support encouragement and friendship,” Lofthouse said.
“A special thanks to Ben (Cahn) who’s coached and been a mentor for me since I was 11, the coaching staff, for the opportunity to be part of this club and a great squad of boys each year who’ve helped me develop along the way.
“To Spiro and everyone who’ve made sure we haven’t gone hungry and everyone who works hard for the Olympic community, it’s like one big footballing family.
“I’m excited about what’s to come and I know you’re a massive part of that, I’m sad to be saying goodbye but I’ll still be supporting the boys and getting to as many games as I can.
“And to the fans it’s been a privilege to play in front of you, best of luck for the seasons to come.
“I just love the boys, thank you an amazing four years.”
Olympic FC wishes Jez every success for future and look’s forward to seeing one of the countries brightest young attacking talents kick on at A-League level.
JEZ LOFTHOUSE
114 appearances
44 goals
34 assists
NPL Queensland Young Player of the Year: 2018
NPL Queensland Team of the Season: 2018, 2019, 2020
Message received. 📱✅#BringTheRoar | #ALeague pic.twitter.com/614s1muN7U
— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) September 27, 2021