‘Very difficult to accept on many levels’: Perth Glory left disappointed after being forced to loan winger to rival

A frustrated Perth Glory has sensationally lost contracted Tunisian midfielder Salim Khelifi to a rival A-League team for the rest of the season – a move, the club claims, driven by Australian Professional Leagues (APL).

The 11th-placed Glory, who have been without a private owner for six months, on Friday night confirmed Khelifi’s departure – subject to medical and international clearance – for the remainder of the A-League campaign, but claimed it’d been instructed by the APL to accept the rival club’s loan offer.

The West Australian reported Khelifi is poised to join the undefeated Melbourne Victory, who sit second on the ladder with six wins and seven draws.

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Khelifi, who arrived at the Glory in 2022 then signed a contract extension until the end of 2025, has played 10 games so far this season.

Glory chief executive Anthony Radich said his club was disappointed, but added there was little the Glory could do.

“I want to make it very clear to all our members, club partners and fans that this decision is neither the will, nor the want of the club,” Radich said.

“It is a direct consequence of our inherited financial legacy, but that said, the outcome is still a very difficult one to accept on many levels.

“We understand the disappointment that this will bring to all our key stakeholders and furthermore, the significant impact it will have upon Alen Stajcic and his team (who have been incredibly stoic and resilient) as they look to drive forward into the second half of the season.”

The Glory have been under the leadership of the APL since July after they were forced into receivership. In November, they were on the verge of a highly-touted sale to a consortium led by Melbourne-based