New A-League club Auckland FC have signed their fifth visa player after finalising a deal with Colombian attacking midfielder Neyder Moreno.
Moreno (27) has been out of contract since July, when he left top-tier Colombian club Atlético Nacional.
The Medellin club plays in Colombia’s Categoria Primera A competition, the country’s top professional league.
Before joining Atlético Nacional, Moreno played for Independiente Santa Fe in the same league.
He becomes Auckland FC’s third signing from South America.
Head coach Steve Corica said: “Neyder is a very fast, technical player that loves to dribble one-v-one against defenders. He is going to cause a lot of problems for the opposition and I’m keen to see how he links up with the likes of May, Max and the rest of the team.”
Moreno said: “Coming to Auckland is a big opportunity for me; it is a chance to experience a new country, a new team and a new league. New Zealand is a very popular country with Colombians.
“The team and the club have so far made me feel very welcome. I’m eager to get to know the team better and start playing some football.”
Auckland FC play their inaugural A-League game against the Brisbane Roar at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Saturday October 19, kicking off at 5pm.
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
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- 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 October 14, 2024.
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