Adelaide United welcomed its two new players just time for the 2010 AFC Champions League campaign after striker Sergio van Dijk and Nigel Boogaard arrived in Adelaide to begin preparations.

Van Dijk, a successful striker who has spent the past two A-League seasons with Brisbane Roar, commences his six month contract for the AFC Champions League, while former Central Coast Mariners defender Boogaard has signed on for a two-year deal with United.

Adelaide have just over a week before their first match against champions the Pohang Steelers.

“They’re a couple of players that have got a fair bit of experience and certainly we’re extremely happy that they’ve come here to help us with the ACL, so we’re very rapt to have those two boys join the club, and we look forward to their commitment to the Adelaide United Football Club,” Vidmar said.

Boogaard was part of the Mariners’ journey into Asian football in 2009, and after the team didn’t progress past the group stage, he says he wants to prove a point if given another chance in Asia.

“I was very disappointed with the way we (the Central Coast Mariners) finished our (ACL) campaign as a team and personally, and hopefully this time around I can get on the park and really set things right for myself,” Boogaard said.

Van Dijk was lured by the incentive to compete against the biggest clubs in Asia and he is eager to show his goal scoring abilities.

“I think it’s really great for a player to be able to play in the AFC Champions League, and I got the chance to do it here in Adelaide, and I didn’t have to think that long so I’m here,” Van Dijk said.

Adelaide United FC – AFC Champions League 2010 Squad

1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Adam HUGHES, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Michael MARRONE, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 21.Mark RUDAN, 22.Dane MILOVANOVIC, 23.Joe COSTA, 24.Marcos FLORES, 25.Evan KOSTOPOULOS, 26.Perry MITRIS, 27.Adam GRIFFITHS, 28.Matthew MULLEN, 29.Joel ALLWRIGHT, 30.Nicholas MUNRO (gk)