Soccer: Barbarouses joins Melbourne Victory

New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses will return to the A-League this season, after signing a three-year-deal with Melbourne Victory. Photo / Getty Images.

Melbourne Victory have signed former Brisbane Roar A-League championship player and New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses on a three-year deal.

It reunites the 23-year-old forward with coach Ange Postecoglou, under whom he was Brisbane's leading scorer when the Roar won the 2010-11 A-League title.

Barbarouses left the Roar after that triumph to sign a three-year contract with Russian club FC Alania.

But he spent last season playing with Greek club Panathinaikos on a loan deal and FC Alania agreed to release him from the final year of his contract.

"We are delighted to have Kosta on board with us at Melbourne Victory and he will add even more attacking flair to our team this season,'' Postecoglou said.

"Kosta has plenty of pace, great technical ability and is a proven scorer, having netted 12 goals the last time he played in the A-League.''

Barbarouses has played 54 A-League games, 33 with Brisbane and 21 with Wellington.

He's also represented New Zealand 22 times and is an integral part of the All Whites squad trying to qualify for next year's World Cup.

-AAP