New A-League club Auckland FC have announced the signing of three import players, bringing the number of signings to 25.
The latest signings are:
- Chilean central midfielder Luis Felipe Gallegos (32), who joins from Greek Super League team OFI Crete FC.
- Former Belgian U-21 international central midfielder Louis Verstraete (25), who has come through the Gent academy.
- Uruguayan striker Guillermo May (26) who has played in the top leagues in Uruguay and Argentina, and has played in Spain.
Main photo (from left) Luis Gallegos, Guillermo May and Louis Verstraete.
Auckland FC head coach Steve Corica said: “Luis is an incredibly experienced number six. He’s played almost 400 professional games, won a heap of silverware, has a great range of passing both short and long, and I’m delighted we were able to bring a player of his calibre to the club..
“Louis is a bit younger but he’s a similar player. A very intelligent midfielder, very organised and a natural leader. Another great addition to our team.
“And then there is Guillermo. He’s a very technical, creative striker with great movement. He will be looking to link up with the midfield, to drop back if needed and make those clever runs that get the ball into the opposition box and create goal scoring chances — either for him or his team mates.”
Gallegos has won three Chilean Championships, one Mexican Super Cup, one Mexican Cup and one Copa Sudamericana.
May has won the Uruguayan Super Cup and the Under-20 Copa Libertadores, both during his time with Club Nacional.
Meanwhile, the club has unveiled their white away strip, featuring front-of-shirt sponsor Go Media.
The club says its design takes cues from Auckland’s unique volcanic topography.
Auckland FC signings
Goalkeepers
- Michael Woud (25), goalkeeper, most recently with Japanese club Kyoto Sanga, and six caps for the national team.
- Alex Paulsen (22), goalkeeper, former Wellington Phoenix standout who joins Auckland FC on loan from English Premier League club Bournemouth.
- Joe Knowles (19), goalkeeper, signed from Eastern Suburbs, and New Zealand age group international.
Defenders
- Hiroki Sakai (34), defender, Japanese international previously with J-League’s Urawa Red Diamonds.
- 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.
- Scott Galloway (29), full back, an Australian U-23 international and former Wellington Phoenix player who joins from Melbourne City.
- Francis De Vries (29), left back, joins from Eastern Suburbs and six appearances for New Zealand.
- Dan Hall (25), centre back, joins from treble-winning Central Coast Mariners.
- Tommy Smith (34), centre back, pro career with clubs in the UK and United States, and more than 50 caps for New Zealand.
- Nando Pijnaker (25), centre back, All White who has returned to New Zealand from League of Ireland club Sligo Rovers.
Midfielders
- Jake Brimmer (26), midfielder, Australian age-group international and former Johnny Warren Medal winner who has left Melbourne City to join Auckland.
- Cam Howieson (29), midfielder, long-time captain of OFC Champions League winners Auckland City, and 20 caps for the All Whites.
- Louis Verstratete (25), midfielder, former Belgian age group international who played for Belgium’s SK Beveren in the second-tier Challenge Pro League.
- Felipe Gallegos (32), midfielder, former Chilean U-20 international who joinns from OFI Crete in the Greek Super League.
Forwards
- Max Mata (23), striker, overseas experience in Switzerland, Estonia, Ireland and UK, with 14 appearances for the All Whites.
- Logan Rogerson (26), forward, joins from Armenian club FC Noah, and has played nine full internationals for New Zealand.
- Joey Champness (27), winger, joins from Turkish club Adnaspor, and has nine caps for New Zealand.
- Jesse Randall (21), left wing, joins from national champions Wellington Olympic, and has six caps for New Zealand.
- Guillermo May (26), forward, a Uruguayan whose last club was Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina.
Scholarship signings
READ MORE: The future of Auckland FC — the young players signed on scholarship contracts >>>>
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
This story was first published on September 17, 2024.
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