The deal has been signed off in the last 24 hours with Downey, 22, who last played for North Queensland Fury last season, inking a one-year deal with an option for another in Holland.

Downey is said to have met up with former Olyroo and FFA technical director Rob Baan at Sparta during his trial over the last two weeks.

Baan is believed to have played a key role in the deal going through after the player impressed on the pitch.

The former Glory player's agent Richard Rudzki from The Onside Agency told au.fourfourtwo.com Rotterdam was the first of four trials lined up in England and Holland.

“Three years ago when he was signed by Glory, Ron Smith was a massive fan and we thought he’d kick on," said Rudzki.

"He didn’t get a gig with the Olympic team in 2008 which was very disappointing and which we didn’t understand.

“He then got injured and in his last season at Perth, he got re-injured - and the net result was that he didn’t really get fit enough and became a fringe player.

 “Then David Mitchell needed a striker to save his season and very hurriedly we organised a swap.”

Downey was then caught up in the financial dramas at Fury and felt it was time to move on and wanted a crack at overseas, although he returned to Perth in the off-season and was allowed to train with the WA franchise.

That ramped up the “Gympie Flyer’s” fitness and after that, he went overseas to try his luck against the wishes of his reps.

“We didn’t think he was ready but he really, really backed himself," admitted Rudzki. "His first trial was at Sparta Rotterdam and there he showed his extraordinary pace.”

But Downey is more than just lightning quick.

The north Queenslander – reputedly the quickest sprinter in the country when he was 13 ­–  had his technique fine-tuned at the AIS and QAS and will now be aiming for a spot in the national set up for Brazil 2014 if Sparta can apply the finishing touches needed. 

The Dutch club recently had another Aussie Kyle Nix on trial at the club but he was unable to gain a contract and returned to his Mansfield Town squad after just one training session and 45 minutes in a trial game.

Sparta were relegated to the second tier from the top flight Eredivisie last season but are tipped to fight their way back into promotion contention this year.