The club has arranged a press conference for 3.45pm at Sydney Aquarium to unveil their high profile star to replace retired skipper Steve Corica as the number 10 playmaker.

The deal was finalised after Carle's cash-strapped former club Crystal Palace agreed to part with Carle for free in return for getting him off their wage bill, despite two years being left on his contract.

Carle is understood to have now signed a two year contract worth $650,000 a year to join the sky blues.

After being denied game-time since leaving Newcastle Jets three years ago - where he won the Johnny Warren Medla before heading overseas 0 Carle will be hoping to use this move to rebuild his career.

The fringe Socceroo was axed from the World Cup squad by Pim Verbeek this week in the final cull before the team flew out to South Africa.

He has rarely had a chance to cement his place in the team and his lack of game time at domestic level has also denied him an opportunity to force his way into the side.

But as the high profile marquee playmaker for Sydney, Carle will want to use that platform to push himself back into contention.