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He announced himself with a 98th-minute equaliser. Now the A-League premiers have reportedly signed him

By Sacha Pisani16 June 2026
He announced himself with a 98th-minute equaliser. Now the A-League premiers have reportedly signed him
Photo: Oscar Gonzalez/Instagram
Oscar Gonzalez's rise has been difficult to ignore and now it appears reigning A-League premiers Newcastle Jets have made their move.
According to reports from journalist Marco Monteverde, the Jets have secured the signature of the highly-rated APIA Leichhardt teenager as they prepare for a season that will include AFC Champions League Elite football alongside their domestic commitments.
For those who have watched Gonzalez closely, the interest should come as little surprise.
The teenager has enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2026, scoring 10 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions despite starting just 11 matches.
Six of those goals have come in NPL NSW, while he also announced himself in the Australia Cup preliminary rounds with a hat-trick.
The numbers are impressive, and the story behind them is even more remarkable.
Gonzalez first burst into the national spotlight in November last year when, at just 16 years old, he came off the bench to score a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser in the opening Australian Championship quarter-final.
It was a moment that hinted at a player capable of thriving under pressure, but his pathway has not always been straightforward.
An ankle fracture delayed his senior progress for more than three months, yet his reputation continued to grow. On one memorable occasion, Gonzalez was withdrawn at half-time after scoring a first-half hat-trick in an Under-20s fixture so he could drive across Sydney and join APIA's first-grade squad.
Since then, he has continued to develop into one of the most exciting attacking prospects in Australian football.
Capable of playing across the front line, Gonzalez combines sharp movement, composure in front of goal and an ability to influence matches despite limited minutes.