Royals Welcome NPL Victoria Legend Adrian Zahra For 2026

Essendon Royals are thrilled to welcome Adrian Zahra to our VPL2 squad for the upcoming season.

Zahra needs little introduction in Victorian football circles. With 254 top-flight appearances for Heidelberg United, Melbourne Knights and Port Melbourne Sharks, he is one of only 27 players in the history of Victorian football to have broken 250.

The experienced midfielder joins the Royals after helping Bentleigh Greens lift the VPL1 Championship in 2025, making 23 appearances for George Katsakis’ promotion-winning outfit.

Zahra played in the A-League for Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory, before proving a cornerstone in a dominant Heidelberg side that lifted three consecutive  Premierships from 2017-2019, and the Championship in 2018.
The signing represents a major coup for the Royals as they continue to strengthen their squad with experienced, quality players ahead of the new season. Zahra’s quality on the ball, relentless intensity and versatility in a variety of midfield roles will prove invaluable for Michael Ferrante’s ambitious side.

Zahra joins Jake Talevski, Josh Markovski, Michael Romas, Anthony Trajkoski, Zac Kocankovski, Lucas Alessi, and Ben Bowler among the new arrivals for 2026.