Luke Dimech will be playing for Sliema Wanderers next season after agreeing terms with his former club.

Luke Dimech followed his heart and returned to the club that launched his Premier League career when putting pen to paper on a one-year deal with Sliema Wanderers, yesterday.

The former Malta international was subject to transfer speculation in recent weeks following his departure from Valletta at the end of last season.

Newly-promoted Pembroke Athleta were touted as the leading candidates to recruit the much-travelled defender. However, when the Wanderers approached Dimech, the 38-year-old could not resist the temptation of returning to the club with whom he won the league championship in his debut season in 1995-96.

“I am really pleased to be back at Sliema Wanderers,” Dimech told Times of Malta.

“At first, I wanted to stay with Valletta but the club underwent a number of changes in the off-season and I realised I wasn’t to feature in their plans.

“I am not keen on retiring yet and I wanted to play another year in the Premier League. There were offers and I was approached by Pembroke to join them.

“But, this week I met up with Sliema president Keith Perry and he offered me the chance to sign for them. I felt that would be a perfect way to end my career... playing for the club with whom I had started my career.”

Sliema are keen to restore the club’s fortunes and in recent weeks they reached an agreement with technical partners Next Champions TV. The deal included the appointment of Italo Galbiati, the former right-hand man of Fabio Capello, as technical director.

“Sliema Wanderers are entering an exciting period,” Dimech added.

“Mr Perry is enthusiastic on the club’s new project and I am keen to give my contribution and see Sliema back at the top of Maltese football,” Dimech, who also played for Marsaxlokk, Birkirkara and Mosta in the Maltese league, said.

The Wanderers, who start their pre-season next week, made it clear they want to retain most of the Maltese players that formed part of coach Stephen Azzopardi’s squad last season.

So far, Italian defender Stefano Bianciardi is the only overseas player confirmed for the new season but the club will have a few other foreigners on trial next month.

Aboulezz joins Greens

Floriana have agreed terms with Malta midfielder Firas Aboulezz who was on the books of Tarxien Rainbows in season 2014-15.

Aboulezz, a free agent, is expected to sign a one-year deal and become Luis Oliveira’s second signing this summer following the arrival of Italian defender Federico Usai.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that winger Isaac Galea left Floriana to join fellow Premier League side Mosta.