The defender will likely renew his partnership at the heart of defence with his U-20 captain Nick Branch.
Musa is the latest youth international to sign with the capital side following in the footsteps of Branch, Ethan Galbraith, Ryan Cain, Liam Higgins and Scott Basalaj. Last season’s ASB Premiership grand final MVP Dakota Lucas is also listed in the squad but is awaiting clearance from Waitakere United.
Most recently Musa was trialling with English club Bradford City following a successful FIFA U-20 World Cup and, despite early reports that he had signed a two-year deal with the Bantams, the deal fell through when manager Peter Jackson offered his resignation to the club.
With the former Wellington Phoenix defender on the radar for the national U-23 team, he decided to return to New Zealand to press his claims for a spot in the Olympic Games squad.
“It was disappointing to miss out on the contract at Bradford,” he says. “But I’m excited to back in Wellington and I’m looking forward to doing well with Team Wellington and pushing for a spot in the New Zealand Olympic squad.”
Bradford’s loss is Team Wellington’s gain and James will bring plenty of experience to the team from his short playing career to date.
“While he’s still young, James has played professionally and did very well on the international stage at the U-20 World Cup recently, so we feel he will be a very good addition to the squad,” coach Matt Calcott says.
“There is a good balance across the squad now and we have competition and cover in all positions. That brings that little bit more bite and intensity to the training pitch as the boys fight for starting spots.”
Prior to his trials in England, Musa was scouted by the Wellington Phoenix as one of the club’s mandatory U-21 players as a schoolboy at Wanganui High School and signed a professional contract prior to the start of the 2010-11 A-League season.
In November 2010 he made his first team debut at home against Melbourne Victory in place of the suspended Ben Sigmund. It made Musa the 50th player to take the field for the Phoenix and also their third-youngest debutant behind Kosta Barbarouses and Marco Rojas.
His debut for Team Wellington could come this weekend as the side kicks its ASB Premiership campaign off on Sunday with a home fixture against Otago United at Dave Farrington Park from 2.30pm.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
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