Mabior Chol has officially joined the Gold Coast SUNS after the club today lodged paperwork with the AFL for the unrestricted free agent.

Chol comes to the SUNS after playing 31 AFL games in five years with Richmond since being selected with pick 30 in the 2016 rookie draft.

A ruck/forward who was born in Sudan before moving to Brisbane at the age of eight, Chol said the lure of home and the chance to play alongside some exciting players convinced him the SUNS would be the best option for his future.

“Gold Coast was the club that I wanted to go to and to be able to go there now and be a SUNS player is exciting,” Chol said.

“The SUNS have a really young list and I think that is the most exciting thing and a lot of good players too.

“I’m just really grateful that the club has shown a lot of interest in me and I’m the player for them, hopefully I can pay them back for all the respect and trust they’ve shown me to go after me.”

SUNS General Manager of Player Talent and Strategy Craig Cameron said Chol would be a great addition to both the key forward and ruck stocks for next season.

“Mabior is someone who we think compliments the direction we are taking and will fit in perfectly here at the SUNS,” Cameron said.

“He gives us a lot of flexibility and his best footy is ahead of him.

“He is really athletic, kicks the ball really well and he has got good speed.

“I think he will be a good acquisition.”

Chol played in Richmond’s VFL premiership in 2019, while off the field he also has a passion for fostering community engagement for young Australians of Sudanese heritage.

The Continental Tyres Trade Period officially gets underway on Monday October 4 and runs until Wednesday October 13.

Mabior Chol

DOB: 29-1-1997

Height: 200cm

Weight: 94kg

Games: 31

Goals: 24

Debut: Round 23, 2016 v Sydney Swans at the SCG

Draft history: 2016 Rookie Draft selection (Richmond) No. 30; 2019 Rookie Draft selection (Richmond) No. 38.