After impressive campaigns across a raft of men’s and women’s FIFA events, New Zealand internationals have caught the attention of professional clubs across the globe.
Marco Rojas, who turned heads in Russia recently with the All Whites at the FIFA Confederations Cup, has been given a second chance in the European game and is currently in the Netherlands for a medical ahead of signing with Dutch Eredivisie club Heerenveen.
Team Wellington midfielder Niko Kirwan has also joined the European professional football scene, signing with Italian Lega Pro club A.C. Mestre ahead of their step-up to the third division of Italian football after earning promotion into the league last season.
Rory Fallon is pursuing a new football path over in Europe, joining English National League club Torquay United in their battle for a return to EFL League Two.
After her impressive campaign at the 2016 Rio Olympics, foreign shores continue to beckon Football Fern goalkeeper Erin Nayler, who recently signed with French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux and is already showcasing Oceania’s talent in team trainings. Nayler has previous experience of the French club system after a recent stint with Olympique Lyonnais.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Major League Soccer is undergoing a small-scale Kiwi invasion. Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers), Kip Colvey (San Jose Earthquakes), Deklan Wynne and Francis de Vries (both Vancouver Whitecaps) have been joined by an influx of recently recruited New Zealanders.
Myer Bevan and Stefan Marinovic have both added to the Whitecaps kiwi contingent and Minnesota United signed Michael Boxall. Fellow All White Bill Tuiloma’s time with Olympique de Marseille has come to an end as he gets set to join Gleeson at Portland Timbers.
Going against the recent draw of Football Ferns stateside is defender CJ Bott who this week signed with German club FF USV Jena in the Allianz Frauen Bundesliga. Bott joins her well-established Ferns teammate, striker Amber Hearn, who has been with the German club since 2011.