A-League expansion club Auckland FC have confirmed three more signings, including two All Whites.
New Zealand internationals Callan Elliot and Joey Champness, and Melbourne City’s Scott Galloway, will join the club for the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
The latest announcement brings to 16 the number of players signed by Auckland FC, and includes eight full New Zealand internationals.
The latest signings are:
- Callan Elliot (24), full back, former Wellington Phoenix player whose last club was Scotland’s Motherwell, and has played three full internationals for New Zealand.
- Joey Champness (27), winger, joins from Turkish club Adnaspor, and has nine caps for New Zealand.
- Scott Galloway (29), full back, an Australian U-23 international and former Wellington Phoenix player who joins from Melbourne City.
Head coach Steve Corica said: “These are three quality players who will provide the club with a solid foundation. I’m proud to bring them here, and they are just as excited to play for us.”
Elliot left New Zealand after the 2022-23 A-League season when his contract expired with the Wellington Phoenix. He joined Scottish Premiership club Motherwell on a short-term contract.
Elliot said, “The chance to return to the country to progress my career, particularly at international level, really appealed. I’m not sure what we are calling it yet, but that derby match between us and the Nix is going to be huge. Bring it on.”
Auckland-born left winger Champness will join Auckland FC after a stint in Turkey. He also has a second career as a musician.
“I grew up here, I’m from here so the chance to finally play professionally here in Auckland is huge for me and for players like me,” Champness said.
READ MORE: All Whites winger Joey Champness and his second career as a rapper >>>>
Australian age group international defender Galloway has played almost 250 professional games, including 22 for the Wellington Phoenix in 2017-18.
Previously-announced signings are:
- Cam Howieson (29), midfielder, long-time captain of OFC Champions League winners Auckland City, and 20 caps for the All Whites.
- Francis De Vries (29), left back, joins from Eastern Suburbs and six appearances for New Zealand.
- Michael Woud (25), goalkeeper, most recently with Japanese club Kyoto Sanga, and six caps for the national team.
- Jesse Randall (21), left wing, joins from national champions Wellington Olympic, and has six caps for New Zealand.
- Tommy Smith (34), defender, pro career with clubs in the UK and United States, and 55 caps for New Zealand.
- Max Mata (23), striker, overseas experience in Switzerland, Estonia, Ireland and UK, with 14 appearances for the All Whites.
- Dan Hall (25), centre back, joins from treble-winning Central Coast Mariners.
The club has also signed six players on scholarship contracts:
- Luis Toomey (22), attacking midfielder, signed from Eastern Suburbs. Formerly with the Wellington Phoenix youth set-up, he spent six months with Finnish club Pallo-Iirot.
- Liam Gillion (21), winger, signed from Auckland City. Gillion joined Auckland City after playing junior football for Manurewa and youth football for Wellington’s Western Suburbs.
- Finn McKenlay (18), midfielder, signed from Eastern Suburbs. Previous clubs include Birkenhead United, East Coast Bays and Onehunga Sports. Selected for the national team for July’s OFC Men’s U-19 Championship.
- Adama Coulibaly (19), midfielder/defender, signed from Western Springs. He’s been included in the New Zealand team for the OFC Men’s U-19 Championship in July.
- Oliver Middleton (18), midfielder, signed from Auckland United, where he has come through the club’s academy. Another selected for the national team for the OFC Men’s U-19 Championship.
- Jonty Bidois (19), forward, signed from Tauranga City. One of the leading goalscorers in this season’s Northern League, he played for Christchurch United in last year’s Men’s National League.
READ MORE: The future of Auckland FC — the young players signed on scholarship contracts >>>>
About Auckland FC
Auckland FC is majority owned by Texas billionaire Bill Foley, with former All Black Ali Williams and businesswoman Anna Mowbray as local co-owners.
Known as the Black Knights, Auckland FC will play their home games at Mt. Smart’s Go Media Stadium when the 2024-25 season starts in October 2024.
The 2024-25 Isuzu-UTE A-League season kicks off in October and Auckland FC inaugural season memberships are now on sale at the club’s website.
Auckland FC is the latest club in Foley’s growing sports portfolio, which also includes AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League, a significant investment in FC Lorient of France’s Ligue 1, and Hibernian FC in the Scottish Premier League.
The club will enter the Liberty A-League women for the 2025-26 season.
This story was first published on July 3, 2024.
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