Thai international defender Surat Sukha will quit Australia to play for Bangkok's Buriram PEA after he was released by the A-League's Melbourne Victory on compassionate grounds, reports the official AFC website. Sukha made 36 appearances over two seasons in the A-League and played five times in the Victory's most recent AFC Champions League campaign.
Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic said the 28-year-old had made a "tremendous contribution" but found settling in Australia too difficult. The transfer is with immediate effect.
"The massive cultural differences between Thailand and Australia made it difficult for his family to settle here in Melbourne, and as a result we reluctantly agreed to transfer him to Buriram PEA," said Durakovic.
Sukha added: "I enjoyed my time at Melbourne Victory, but it was in the best interests of my family that I return home to Thailand."