Budding All White Matt Dibley-Dias has agreed a season-long loan to English League One club Northampton Town.
The Lower Hutt-born midfielder is under contract to English Premier League club Fulham where he has captained the London club’s U-21 team, leading them to the Premier League Cup title last season.
Dibley-Dias (20) was called into the New Zealand national squad for games against DR Congo and Australia in October 2023 but was injured in the All Whites training camp before he could make his debut.
He had been expected to make his international debut during those games, after choosing to play for the country of his birth, despite being eligible to play for Brazil, Portugal and England.
Northampton Town manager Jon Brady told the club’s website: “He has already made an impact at Fulham, he has been in and around their first team squad and I know he is rated very highly.
“He has had a choice of clubs this summer. I know there were at least half a dozen in for him so we are very pleased he has chosen to come to Northampton Town and we are grateful to Fulham for believing we are the best place for him and for trusting us with another of their young players.
“Matt is good on the ball and he has a good engine, he is an athletic player who is mobile and who can get about the pitch but can also handle the physical side of the game.
“We believe he can be a good fit for us and a good foil for the other midfielders here. We are very pleased to welcome him in to the group and we are looking forward to working with him.”
Dibley-Dias told the Northampton Town website he was keen to step up from age group football.
“I feel I am ready to play first team football, to take the next step in my career and I am excited to see how it goes.
“I spoke a lot with Kieron Bowie about the club, he only had good things to say and he explained to me how good this club is.
“Before I came here I looked at the number of young players who have improved here, who have developed here and that was another big factor that impressed me.
“This feels like a club heading forward. It seems like it is on the up and hopefully I can help contribute to that.
“I am a midfielder who likes to win the ball and to try and dictate play, I see myself as a positive player.”
After his inclusion in the All Whites’ training camp in late 2023, New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley and captain Chris Wood enthused about him.
“He’s one for the future,” Bazeley said.
“He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Wood said.
“I think he’ll do extremely well in our environment, and I think he’ll suit our team extremely well.”
WATCH: Matt Dibley-Dias lifts Premier League Cup for English club Fulham >>>>
This story was first published on July 27, 2024.
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