Sydney forward set to join Carlton as an unrestricted free agent on $5m deal

Sydney key forward Joel Amartey will tell the Swans on Wednesday that he intends to join Carlton as a free agent.

The unrestricted free agent has made his mind up after months of speculation surrounding his future, with the Blues offering a five-year deal worth around $1m per season.

Amartey last played in Round 16 way back in June, when he suffered a partial Achilles tear.

Hayden McLean and Logan McDonald in particular have flourished as key forwards in the absence of Amartey, who may have fallen down the pecking order as a result.

He had been keeping McLean out of the line-up most weeks, with Sydney reluctant to play all four of Charlie Curnow, McDonald, McLean and Amartey.

McDonald had an excellent finals series, including kicking six against Brisbane in the qualifying final, finishing the year with 51 goals.

“It’s tough when you’ve been a pivotal part of a forward line, a pivotal part of a club. And through injury you miss, and opportunity presents,” Dale Thomas said on Channel 7 last week.

“And we’ve seen in his absence that McDonald is more than serviceable and capable. He was the best forward tonight. McLean’s doing a pretty good job up there. And Charlie’s Charlie.”

Matthew Richardson added: “You get one crack at this. You have a short career, and if you get an offer that is too good to refuse, then that’s just the nature of the beast, the way that footy is now.”

While Amartey hasn’t made a final decision, McGuire said a move to Carlton is looking increasingly likely as a career at the Blues appears “more enticing” than when the offer first arrived at the start of the year.

Amartey’s best season was in 2024 when he played 25 games and kicked 43 goals.

He has, however, had history of soft-tissue injuries and managed just eight games in 2025 and played just 15 this year for a 28-goal return.

His best outing in a game came in 2024 when he booted nine goals against Adelaide.