It may not be his last move.
Valencia, Spain’s third biggest club, has been the pathway for many players who moved up a notch to join one of the big two, Real Madrid or Barcelona - among them David Villa, Isco, Jordi Alba Raul Albiol and, even, Jeremy Mathieu.
If David de Gea’s move from Manchester United to the Spanish capital doesn’t eventuate Madrid could well be watching the young Australian closely.
The size of what Ryan has bitten off by going to Valencia should not be underestimated. It is quite the biggest transfer by an Australian goalkeeper since Mark Bosnich went to Manchester United or Zeljko Kalac joined AC Milan.
Valencia is a six-times winner of the La Liga title. It has won the Copa del Rey seven times. It has three UEFA Cup wins and one Cup Winners Cup in its trophy room. It has won two UEFA Supercups and has been in two UEFA Champions League finals.
It plays in what technical observers claim is the best league in the world. It is not comforting for a goalkeeper when Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Suarez or Benzema are coming at him in full flight.
Valencia is the third-best supported club in Spain with 50,000 season ticket holders, bettered only by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Its home, the Mestalla, has a capacity of 55,000. When its mooted new stadium is finally built it will hold 75,000 fans and the 20,000 on the season ticket waiting list will be accommodated.
This is no Club Brugge, not to say Central Coast Mariners where Ryan, a boy from western Sydney, started his professional career and attended training from his home in a caravan park.
The Transfer Markt website values him at $10.4 million. By the time the La Liga season ends that figure may double or even triple. That is if Ryan’s performance history is any guide.
Ryan's record through his playing career has been remarkable in its consistency. He has excelled everywhere he has played and though he had rivals among young Australian keepers, among them Mitch Langerak, he has justified Ange Postecoglou’s call to make him first choice for Australia.
One reason is that Ryan is supremely adept at Ange’s preference for playing out from the back, launching attacks with a throw or a short pass as opposed to thumping it blindly upfield, as so many young keepers are being taught to do. He particularly excelled in this during January’s Asian Cup which the Socceroos won, thanks in no small part to him.
It is the way most Spanish teams like to play, including Valencia under its Portuguese coach, Nuno Espirito Santo. With last season’s first-choice keeper, the Brazilian Diego Alves, out injured until at least January, Ryan is likely to get his chance and, if we know him, he will take it with both hands.
And we do know him. He is a model young man, more Jason Day than Nick Kyrgios, with his head screwed on right, lashings of professionalism, self confidence, humility and decency. He will make us proud in more ways than one.
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Ryan ready to reign in Spain
At 23 the world of football awaits Mat Ryan to make further statements. I have no doubt he will make them.
Australia has had more than its share of great goalkeepers in the past but this boy may well become the best of them. Stand by for the next 15 years.
I can’t wait to see him in action and early Sunday morning when Valencia faces Rayo Vallecano in its opening game of the La Liga season.
Another big entry in the diary is Monday 7 December, when Los Che faces Barcelona.
