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According to his Australia-based agent, Gallas turned down a number of offers from clubs around the globe to sign for Glory as their marquee player pending a medical.
“I hope to help my new team mates and club achieve success in this season and hope to help deliver to the fans of Perth the championship they are looking for,” he said via his agent. “I look forward to this new challenge and hope to excite the fans.”
So just who is William Gallas and why all the fuss?
For a start, his club career took him to some of Europe’s big name clubs including Marseille, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur over the course of 16 seasons. Gallas won the Premier League twice while at Chelsea and on two occasions was named in the PFA Team of the Year.
At international level, he was capped 84 times for France and played a role in two World Cups and two European Championships. You really couldn’t ask for a better pedigree.
Glory boss Alistair Edwards has spoken about his excitement at Gallas joining and thinks he will be a perfect fit.
“He has played alongside some of the best players in world football and worked under some of the most decorated managers and coaches of all time, including Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho, people whom I have the utmost respect for,” said Edwards.
"Gallas fits into our vision of providing the best environment for our youth to flourish. He knows that he is coming into a wonderful culture built around great experienced players and some of the most talented young players in Australian football."
Gallas’ new team mates have also expressed their unanimous support for the acquisition via Twitter.
Welcome to @PerthGloryFC William Gallas.. Great edition for football in Australia with so much experience !! 🇫🇷
— Adrian Zahra (@adrian_zahra) October 23, 2013
William Gallas coming to Perth Glory!! Namaste that!!
— ⚽Dann¥ Vukovi©⚽ (@vuka20) October 23, 2013
Great to hear that Gallas is joining us at Glory this season. Will add experience & quality to our group! #GallastoGlory
— Shane Smeltz (@ShaneSmeltz) October 23, 2013
Welcome Willie 👍🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷Where will he play? Well, he’s a centre back so at the heart of the defence.
— Scott Jamieson (@ScottJamieson) October 23, 2013
Gallas is predominately right footed and is more than comfortable filling in at either full back position too if required.
With Michael Thwaite set to return from injury this weekend, the idea of a Socceroo and a vastly experienced Frenchman forming a partnership is an exciting prospect.
Of course, someone will have to lose out and this will most likely be Steve Pantelidis which is unfortunate as the former Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast United man has been a great servant to Glory since arriving in 2011.
Youngster Brandon O'Neill has seen some game time lately too but he is still quite raw and will be benefit more from being a squad player rather than having to cope with the pressure of starting every week.
An honourable mention must go to Ljubo Milicevic who left the club recently after little more than 40 days after signing. Were it not for his departure, Glory would have had a full squad and the Gallas deal could not have materialised.
As with any signing, it’s important to weigh up the cons as well as the pros and when Gallas was linked with Melbourne Victory a couple of months ago I was sceptical.
At 36, his legs aren’t getting any younger and he has suffered regularly from calf problems in recent years. He was on the sidelines twice, for three weeks and two months respectively, during the 2011/12 season and missed another three weeks in April this year all due to issues with his calves.
Then there’s the famous incident from the 2007/08 season when he had an on-field meltdown against Birmingham City in a game many blame for Arsenal’s failure to claim the Premier League title. The team captain at the time, Gallas reacted badly to a late penalty being awarded against his side.
After initially storming into the Birmingham half in protest as the spot kick was about to be taken, he exchanged pleasantries with opposition fans before sitting down on the pitch at the final whistle as everyone else headed for the dressing room.
"You know I learned a lot, you want to be the best captain, give good advice to your players, but sometimes you can make mistakes as well so I think this season I know what I'm going to do and I know I am ready to change my way to speak to the players,” he said a few months after the incident.
That all took place a number of years ago though and since then he has continued to perform well at the highest level of club football.
Interestingly, Gallas has requested the number 13 shirt at every club he has joined as it was his post code when he lived in Marseille.
At Chelsea he was made give up the number when Michael Ballack arrived at Stamford Bridge, and shortly afterwards he was transferred to Arsenal as part of the deal for Ashley Cole.
With 13 already in use at the Gunners and Gallas not comfortable wearing the number three, Arsene Wenger gave him the number 10 which had recently been vacated by Dennis Bergkamp, a move that to this day still annoys supporters.
Will Travis Dodd, currently absent after an ACL reconstruction, give his number 13 shirt to the new arrival? I guess we’ll have to wait and see!