The Illawarra Premier League side upstaged much of the A-League transfer talk with a coup of its own, snaring the 36-year-old from FC Basel.

Chipperfield has decided to return home when his contract concludes with the Swiss side at the end of this month and has agreed to a short-term deal with the Wollongong northern suburbs club.

The move is expected to be a precursor to an A-League contract with both Sydney clubs said to be keen to sign the midfielder.

But Chipperfield remains philosophical: ‘‘If I don’t pick up a contract with the A-League then I’ll play until the end of the season,’’ he told the Illawarra Mercury.

‘‘It’s all up in the air at the moment, but I’m pretty confident I can play a couple of games (for Tarrawanna).’’

The decision is a return to his roots for Chipperfield who played for the club as a junior. And there was no delay in updating his Wikipedia entry which now describes him as an “Australian international football player who currently plays as a midfielder for Tarrawanna in the Illawarra Premier League”.

Chipperfield has enjoyed a successful sojourn in Europe and ends his time with Basel on a high having completed the league and cup double.