Sliema sign Agius on loan after Akanji's exit

Sliema Wanderers have signed goalkeeper Simon Agius on a one-year loan from rivals Floriana after the Blues this week reached agreement with Murphy Akanji to terminate his contract.

Akanji had been Sliema's no.1 goalkeeper for the past seven seasons but his prospects of extending his spell with the Blues by another year looked bleak amid reports of a fall-out with coach Stephen Azzopardi and the club's committee.

Contacted by The Times yesterday, Steve Abela, the Sliema Wanderers president, and Akanji both confirmed that they had agreed to go their separate ways.

"Murphy Akanji has been released after talks led to a mutual agreement over the termination of his contract," Abela said.

"In the past few days, Sliema have completed the signing of goalkeeper Simon Agius on a one-year loan from Floriana."

Akanji had one year left on his contract with Sliema but is now free to talk with other clubs after severing his links with the Blues.

During his seven-year spell with Sliema, Akanji, 30, won three league titles and a host of other domestic honours.

For the best part of his time with the Blues, Akanji was considered as automatic choice but after Sliema slipped out of the title race in the early stages of the Championship Pool last season, the Nigerian lost his first-team place to youngster Henry Bonello for a number of league matches.

With regards Agius, he had also been keen to move on after his relationship with Floriana became strained of late.

The 30-year-old former Lija custodian will be hoping to make his mark for Sliema who have parted company with a host of players in the close season.

Malta striker Etienne Barbara secured a loan move to German Regionalliga club SC Verle after just one season with Sliema.

Barbara has proved an instant hit at SC Verle after scoring regularly for his new team in pre-season.

Other players who no longer form part of Sliema's squad are Brian Said, who has joined Marsaxlokk, Orosco Anonam, who moved to Floriana, Brazilian midfielder Andre Rocha Da Silva, now at Msida St Joseph, and Carlos Ventura.

Akanji's exit means that Sliema now have three vacancies for foreign players. The Wanderers are set to offer a contract to two players who have impressed coach Azzopardi during their trial.