Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury has completed a dream move to Italian giants Inter Milan until the end of the 2016/17 season.

The Perth-born 25-year-old, who began his career in the A-League with the Central Coast Mariners, has joined the Nerazzurri on loan from Chinese Super League side Jiangsu Suning on the final day of the transfer period in Europe.

Sainsbury, who moved to China from Dutch club PEC Zwolle in January 2016, has won 24 caps for Australia after making his debut in September 2014.

He was in the starting XI in Australia’s 2-1 win over South Korea in the final of the Asian Cup in 2015.

👕⚫️🔵 #WelcomeSainsbury! Find out which shirt number the new #Inter defender will wear 👉 https://t.co/NCazVhmsEA #FCIM pic.twitter.com/UYvobc2eXE

— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter_en) January 31, 2017

Inter moved to sign the Australian on deadline day after allowing Italy international defender Andrea Ranocchia to join Premier League strugglers Hull City on loan for the rest of the campaign.

Inter currently sit fourth on the Serie A table, nine points behind leaders Juventus.

Sainsbury will become the ninth Australian to play in the Italian top-flight, and the first to do so since Josh Brillante played three games in total for Fiorentina and Empoli in 2015/16.

The signing is significant for the current crop of Socceroos, who have struggled to break into clubs playing in the world’s top leagues, let alone a team as enormous as Inter.