The 2023–24 season is the 19th in the history of Adelaide United Football Club since its establishment in 2003. The club is participating in the A-League Men for the 18th time, and the Australia Cup for the 9th time.
In their 20th year of existence, Adelaide United's season began with their second worst Australia Cup performance, losing 1–5 to Western Sydney Wanderers in the round of 16. Leading into the season, Adelaide lost numerous high profile players, including their captain and all-time leading goalscorer, Craig Goodwin, Olyroos midfielder Louis D'Arrigo, and Spanish midfielder Juande. Their A-League Men campaign began on 20 October with a comprehensive 3–0 over reigning champions, Central Coast Mariners, and a 6–0 win against reigning premiers Melbourne City a week later.
Season summary
Pre-season
10 days after their 2022–23 season ended with a 4–1 semi-final aggregate defeat to Central Coast Mariners, Spanish midfielder Juande announced his departure from the club, following a two-year stint. After spending the second half of the season on the sidelines after suffering a broken leg in a 3–3 draw with Melbourne City, Juande announced his departure on Instagram, saying "... sometimes football is so unfair and selfish, but Adelaide United is much more than two people to tarnish my memories." A week and a half later, the departures of George Blackwood and Asad Kasumovic were also announced. Blackwood made 41 appearances and scored 9 goals in all competitions during his second stint at the club, while making 113 appearances and scoring 25 goals over both stints. Asad Kasumovic made 10 appearances in all competitions.
On 28 June 2023, the draw for the 2023 Australia Cup Round of 32 took place. Adelaide United drew National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 side Northcote City, with the match being scheduled for 14 August a week later.
On 10 July, Javi López became the first player of the new season to extend his contract. Over the next two days, extensions were announced for Josh Cavallo and Ethan Alagich, both for two years. The pre-season calendar was released the following day, with training sessions at West Torrens Birkalla, FK Beograd, The Cove and Croydon FC, with matches at Cove, Beograd and Campbelltown City. The matches were organised during Football South Australia's competition hiatus during the Women's World Cup.
On 18 July, Adelaide United NPL player Nathan Amanatidis signed for Sydney FC, following the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, where he scored two goals for Australia, against China and Tajikistan.
Following a contract extension for Luke Duzel and a scholarship contract for Ethan Cox, their first friendly game against The Cove resulted in an 8–1 win, with a squad formed of young players. The following day, a three-year contract was announced for Luka Jovanovic. Their second friendly was against FK Beograd, where a team, once again composed of mostly young players, lost 4–2 to Beograd, with former injury replacement player Joshua Mori scoring. Adelaide United were scheduled to play a friendly match against Campbelltown City, however it was cancelled without notice, and the announcement of the game was removed from their website.
The week before their first game of the season, Adelaide United announced a new three-year contract for Jonny Yull.
Australia Cup
Adelaide United's first competitive match was against Victorian semi-professional club Northcote City in Melbourne, which saw the debuts of Giuseppe Bovalina and Fabian Talladira. Five minutes into the game, captain Craig Goodwin opened his account for the season with a low drive that was spilled in by the goalkeeper, assisted by Jonny Yull. Despite dominating the game, they were unable to increase their lead, until Zach Clough scored with a volley in the 85th minute to confirm their advance to the round of 16. The same night as their 2–0 win in the Round of 32, the draw for the next round of the Cup took place. They were drawn against A-League Men opposition Western Sydney Wanderers, with the match being confirmed to be played at Marconi Stadium on the night of 29 August.
Carl Veart went with an unchanged starting lineup for the round of 16 match, with Nestory Irankunda being dropped from the squad after an incident in an NPL SA semi-final the previous Friday. Adelaide United would drop out of the cup, going down 1–5 to Western Sydney Wanderers, with Zach Clough scoring a consolation goal in the 81st minute.
On 6 September 2023, midfielder Louis D'Arrigo left the club to sign for Polish second division club Lechia Gdańsk, and scholarships were announced for Bailey O'Neil, Panagiotis Kikianis, and Giuseppe Bovalina.