Ariath Piol
{{short description|Australian soccer player}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ariath Piol
| fullname = Ariath Deng Piol
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2004|10|11}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| height = 1.76m
| position = Striker
| currentclub = Real Salt Lake
| clubnumber = 23
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Campbelltown City
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = FFSA NTC
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs3 = MetroStars
| years1 = 2020–2022
| clubs1 = MetroStars
| caps1 = 46
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2023
| clubs2 = Western Sydney Wanderers NPL
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 5
| years3 = 2023–2024
| clubs3 = Bulls FC Academy
| caps3 = 20
| goals3 = 9
| years4 = 2024–2025
| clubs4 = Macarthur FC
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = Real Salt Lake
| caps5 = 12
| goals5 = 1
| club-update = 16:46, 29 May 2025 (UTC)
}}
Ariath Deng Piol (born 11 October 2004) is an Australian footballer who plays as a forward for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.
Early life
Piol was born in Adelaide to parents from Sudan who fled to Australia from the Second Sudanese Civil War in the 1980s. He grew up playing Australian rules football before switching to association football. As a child, he became close friends with fellow professional footballer Mohamed Touré.{{cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-news-macarthur-fc-ariath-piol-interview-sudan-civil-war-australian-football/|title=‘That’s my why’: When two civil war stories meet – and lead to the A-Leagues|first=Sacha|last=Pisani|website=A-Leagues|date=19 December 2024}}
Career
Piol played for National Premier Leagues South Australia side MetroStars in his native Adelaide before joining the Western Sydney Wanderers NPL team after a successful trial for the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.metrostars.com.au/single-post/piol-s-journey-with-wanderers|title=Piol's Journey With Wanderers|website=MetroStars|date=15 March 2023}} Midway through the 2023 season, Piol joined the youth team of Macarthur FC.
In January 2024, Piol was promoted to the Macarthur FC first team signing a scholarship contract until the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/welcome-to-the-a-league-ariath-piol|title=Welcome to the A-League: Ariath Piol|website=Macarthur FC|date=9 February 2024}} Piol made two appearances and scored one goal in a 2-1 win against his hometown club Adelaide United.{{cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/adelaide-united-macarthur-fc-match-report-goals-highlights-video-irankunda/|title=‘Not sure I agree’: Two Reds greats challenge coach’s summary of late collapse against Bulls|first=Matt|last=Comito|website=A-Leagues|date=12 April 2024}} At the end of the season, Piol signed a two-year contract extension.{{cite web|url=https://macarthurfc.com.au/news/young-hero-commits-for-two-more-seasons/|title=Young hero commits for two more seasons!|website=Macarthur FC|date=27 May 2024}}
The 2024–25 season was a breakout season for Piol. He was a part of the Macarthur side that won the 2024 and came on as a substitute in the final. In the league, Piol's good form attracted interest from overseas clubs such as Troyes, St. Gallen and Real Salt Lake.{{cite web|url=https://aleagues.com.au/news/adelaide-united-macarthur-fc-match-report-goals-highlights-video-irankunda/|title=Transfer of Australian defender Kye Rowles is a ‘good deal’: Socceroo heads to US|first=Marco|last=Monteverde|website=news.com.au|date=14 January 2025}} On 23 January 2025, it was announced that Piol signed for Real Salt Lake in the MLS for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsl.com/news/real-salt-lake-signs-australian-striker-ariath-piol|title=Real Salt Lake Signs Australian Striker Ariath Piol|website=rsl.com Real Salt Lake|date=23 January 2025}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|890913}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|ariath-piol}}
{{Real Salt Lake squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piol, Ariath}}
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Australian men's soccer players
Category:Australian people of South Sudanese descent
Category:National Premier Leagues players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Real Salt Lake players
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United States