The National Pool (Men's)

Having read through the the 

Well I managed to update it thanks to four hours of having nothing to do at work tonight, so I thought I'd share it here just so people have a better idea of who is floating about.

I just want to add here that I have no affiliation to NZF, and I don't have inside access to any platforms or databases that help set me up to do this other than my own research, scouring online platforms and websites for referencing, and just general knowledge on the subject.

This list is by no means exhaustive ( I do what I can with limited resource, but I try and make sure it's as accurate as possible) and I'm sure there are many other names that can be added to this list given the big, and increasing kiwi expat populations in the USA, UK, Europe and Australia.

As always, feel free to add to the list (this also helps me!) And contest, query and question names as you please. It's basically just an evolving mess of names that will grow and contract as players move around and/or drop out of the game/retire.

This is a current list as of 23/7/26.

Just to note
• Updated list of NPL players based on the latest transfer windows closing. Have delved a little in to state leagues, but it will take me more time to go over it in depth, so I've added some of the more prominent names that I recognize.
• '*' denotes players that I am unsure on contractually, or haven't fully committed to New Zealand.
• Some contracted players - Alex Rufer, Kosta Barbarouses for example - Are missing, they are out of contract currently but it is just as easy to update this when contract details are finalized or a move eventuates for example.
• OFC Pro League players have not been included in this unless it has been specifically stated they will be staying on past 2026 - Otto Ingham & Owen Smith are the only ones confirmed in this instance - I have a list of the players who where named in squads for the inaugural season, so if people want it, I can post that up too.

Enjoy.

Australia
Sam Sutton - Perth Glory
Liam Gillion - Western Sydney Wanderers
Ricky Fransen - Western Sydney Wanderers
Storm Roux - Central Coast Mariners
Ben Gibson - Macarthur FC*
Ethan Dyer - Sydney FC
Jackson O'Reilly - Brisbane Roar (U20's)
Keigo Shimokawa - Melbourne Victory (U16s)
Ruben Argent - Perth Glory (NPL)
Max Argent - Perth Glory (NPL)
Dominic Onley - Sydney FC (U16's)
Justin Cardozo - Macarthur FC (NPL)
Davi Valle Dos Santos - Macarthur FC (U16's)
Aidan Adams - Western United (U23's)
John Woldegiorgis - Western United (U23's)
Jacob Buchanan - Western United (U18's)
Jackson Skinner - Brisbane City (U16's)
Preston Fava - Queensland State (FQ Academy)
Miles Brokenshire - SD Raiders FC (U16's)
Lewis Miccio - St George City*
Seth Clark - Sydney Olympic
Zac Zoricich - Sydney Olympic
Anton Isaako - Sydney Olympic
Liam Wood - University of NSW
Wan Gatkek - University of NSW
Jerson Lagos - Queensland Lions FC*
Will Martin - Queensland Lions FC
Matt Ridenton - Eastern Suburbs FC
Jackson Simpkin - Olympic FC
Ty Cobb - Olympic FC
Henry Aitken - Magic TFA
David Yoo - South Melbourne FC
Joseph Lee - Heidelberg United
Nathan Simes - Green Gully
Kingsley Sinclair - Oakleigh Cannons
Campbell Strong - Oakleigh Cannons
Lachlan Candy - Oakleigh Cannons (U23's)
Amanuel Woldegiorgis - Melbourne Knights (U23's)
Harry Casci - Northcote City
Zander Guy - Dandenong City*
Taylor Schrijvers - Hume City FC
Scott Hilliar - Bentleigh Greens
George Ott - Avondale FC
Emlyn Wellsmore - Avondale FC
Dan Atkinson - White City Woodville
Xavier Pratt - Playford City
Josh Tollervey - Devonport Strikers
Isaac Bates - Devonport Strikers
Flynn Whitaker - Ulverstone SC (U23's)
Jeremy George - Glenorchy Knights
Nicholas Milicich - Clarence Zebras
Jarrod McKechnie - Edgeworth Eagles
Stef Cordwell - Edgeworth Eagles
Ryan Feutz - Bankstown Lions

New Zealand
Francis de Vries - Auckland FC
Lachlan Bayliss - Auckland FC
Luka Vicelich - Auckland FC
Cam Howieson - Auckland FC
Logan Rogerson - Auckland FC
Michael Woud - Auckland FC
Nando Pijnaker - Auckland FC
Callan Elliot - Auckland FC
Oliver Middleton - Auckland FC
Jonty Bidois - Auckland FC
Oli Sail - Auckland FC
Ronan Wynne - Auckland FC
Isa Prins - Auckland FC
Bailey Ferguson - Auckland FC*
Van Fitzharris - Auckland FC
Joe Knowles - Auckland FC
Aaron Cartwright - Auckland FC
Eamonn McCarron - Wellington Phoenix
Bill Tuiloma - Wellington Phoenix
James McGarry - Wellington Phoenix
Matt Sheridan - Wellington Phoenix
Isaac Hughes - Wellington Phoenix
Nathan Walker - Wellington Phoenix
Fin Roa Conchie - Wellington Phoenix
Alby Kelly-Heald - Wellington Phoenix
Lukas Kelly-Heald - Wellington Phoenix
Tze-Xuan Loke - Wellington Phoenix
Corban Piper - Wellington Phoenix
Anaru Cassidy - Wellington Phoenix
Jayden Smith - Wellington Phoenix
Luke Brooke-Smith - Wellington Phoenix
Henry Gray - Wellington Phoenix (on loan from Ipswich Town)
 
Argentina
Joaquin Reinoso - Velez Sarsfield (U16's)*

Belgium
Victor Barbosa - RWDM Molenbeek
Bryce McMillen - KFC Putte

Cambodia
Moses Dyer - Phnom Penh Crown FC
Myer Bevan - Boeung Ket
Aarun Lim - Boeung Ket*
Ashnarvy Mustapha - Boeung Ket*

Canada
Luis Toomey - Vancouver FC
Finn Linder - Halifax Wanderers
Jay Herdman - Cavalry FC

Croatia
Stipe Ukich - NK Istra
Oliver Edwards - NK Uskok Klis

Denmark
Callum McCowatt - Silkeborg IF
Dalton Wilkins - SonderjyskE

England
Chris Wood - Nottingham Forest
Tyler Bindon - Nottingham Forest
Max Crocombe - Millwall FC
Matt Dibley-Dias - Fulham FC
Matt Garbett - Peterborough United
Ben Waine - Port Vale FC
Joe Wallis - West Bromwich Albion
Noah DuPont - West Bromwich Albion
Nik Tzanev - Huddersfield Town
Jose Casa-Grande - Bristol City
Jacob Borgnis - Aldershot Town
Matt Gould - Yeovil Town
Zac Jones - AFC Fylde
Luke Supyk - Gateshead FC
Tommy Smith - Braintree Town
Jack Perniskie - MK Dons (Development)
Alex Lienard - Sunderland AFC (Youth)
Tobi Borgnis - Reading FC (Youth)
Oliver Anderson - Brighton and Hove Albion (U16's)
Nicholas Ferguson - Preston North End (U16's)
Zane Donaghy - Bristol Rovers (U16's)
Jacob Rowe - Leyton Orient (U16's)

Estonia
Jacob Kleinsmith - FC Elva

Finland
Ollie Whyte - FC Haka

France
Ben Old - AS Saint-Étienne

Germany
Johnny Martin - FC Kempten
Vadym Patkevych - CSC 03 Kassel
Connor Smith - Bonner SC (U20's)

Ireland
Max Mata - St Pat's Atheltic
Jago Godden - Drogheda United
Norman Garbett - Dundalk FC

Italy
Niko Kirwan - Potenza Calcio
Alessandro Scimia - San Gregorio
Luca Scimia - L'Aquila 1927

Japan
Marco Lorenz - Gainare Tottori

Jordan
Anas Zara - Al-Salt*

Lithuania
Kyle Aidan Mendes - FC Hegelmann

Malaysia
Dane Ingham - Sabah FC

Netherlands
Ryan Thomas - PEC Zwolle

North Macedonia
Konstantino Gorgiovski - Vardar Negotino

Norway
Joe Bell - Viking FK

Paraguay
Tim Payne - Club Olimpia

Poland
Zhubin Rahbarian - MLKS Unia Gniewkowo 1933*

Portugal
Sarpreet Singh - SC Farense
Alejandro Stolberg - CF Unidos*

Philippines
Anton Ganas - Aguilas

Qatar
Yamaan Jarrar - Umm Salal*

Scotland
Alex Paulsen - Motherwell (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
Jesse Randall - Dundee United FC
George Stanger - Kilmarnock FC
Oliver Colloty - Elgin City FC
Matthew Warbrick - Ayr United*
Lawton Green - Alloa Athletic FC
Ashton Pellow - Carluke Rovers

South Africa
Andrew de Jong - Orlando Pirates
Dublin Boon - Stellenbosch FC
Nathan Garrow - Stellenbosch FC

Spain
Riley Peach - Elche CF
Ruben Dray - Unión Deportiva Vall de Uxó

Sweden
Owen Parker-Price - Örgryte
Kees Sims - GAIS
Cameron Hogg - Ljungskile SK
Dominic Wooldridge - Torslanda IK
Sean Bright - Torslanda IK
Harry Edge - Torslanda IK

Switzerland
Till Estermann - SV Muttenz*

United States of America
Finn Surman - Portland Timbers
Michael Boxall - Minnesota United
Kyle Adams - Louisville City
Alex Greive - San Antonio FC
Riley Bidois - Monterey Bay FC
James Musa - Fort Wayne FC
Codey Phoenix - Tacoma Defiance
Troy Putt - Minnesota United 2
Thomas Raimbault - Carolina Core
Brendan Schneider - Tampa Bay Rowdies (U20's)
Max Carmichael - Seattle Sounders (U16's)

Vanuatu
Otto Ingham - Vanuatu United
Owen Smith - Vanuatu United

Wales
Marko Stamenic - Swansea City
Elijah Just - Swansea City
Liberato Cacace - Wrexham AFC
Isaac Dudding - Pontardawe Town

Amazing list! 

Zander Guy I'm pretty sure is eligible for NZ plays for Dandenong City

Also Luca Scimia is at L'Aquila 1927 in Serie D

Nice one. 

You're an absolute legend YH, we're so lucky to have people like you contributing and posting on this forum.

Keep doing what you're doing. :)

Thanks for this fantastic effort!
Great to have all our best and most promising players listed in one place!
An English commentator said during the All Whites World Cup commentary the other day that NZ only has 60 pro players.
Not all the players on your list are by any means full time pros.
But I suspect that we actually have a bit more than sixty if you add up the Kiwis in our two men's A-League sides, the Aussie A-League sides, plus the OFC Pro League sides (who are pros while contracted, though not when released to their winter clubs as South Island United do), and the Kiwi pros playing in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America.
I wonder how many full time pro players we actually have?

No problem at all.

By my count the total pro pool sits at about 85 going off that list. The great thing is this that there will be several more movements and contract confirmations that kick in before 26/27 kicks off, so there will be several more additions to that list yet.

I will also try and update this list on a semi regular basis.

Still in the pool, but that's pretty decent for the Auckland born kid.

Believe he was provisionally included in the NZ squad for the OFC U16 Championships, so I can see why he wasn't included in the final squad.

U17 WC potential for us if he doesn't get across the line with Argentina.

U20 WC Training Games coming up soon. Might be a few new faces there maybe?

From memory his Mum stayed in NZ (higher wages than Argentina??) whilst he returned to Argentina with his Dad, for the youngster's football.
 
Hopefully that family sacrifice hopefully pays off for them.

Argentina have only missed qualifying for the U17 World Cup on four occasions. Even if he doesn't make it to the 2026 edition later this year, he could well be in the frame for them for the 2027 and possibly even the 2028 edition.

Long road until it reaches that point though, but every chance he gets immersed in the Argentinian setup in the meantime though.

Few from his club Velez Sarsfield named in the Argy U15 squad. One of the better club academy systems? Nixieboys will know.

Watched the Hurricanes play Jaguares in a Super Rugby at Velez's stadium (western Buenos Aires burbs) in 2018.

The Pumas play alot of rugby internationals there as well.

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Fingers crossed he ends up very good, but not quite good enough (for Argentina of course!).

More for the list! Nobody major in here, but some interesting players, particularly Zara for me. Have left out guys with no obvious shot of making any career progression (e.g. some older fellas in English lower leagues)

Portugal
Alejandro Stolberg (CF Unidos)*

Belgium
Bryce McMillen (KFC Putte)

Cambodia
Aarun Lim (Boeung Ket)*
Ashnarvy Mustapha (Boeung Ket)*

Italy
Alessandro Scimia (San Gregorio)
Luca Scimia (L'Aquila)
Fabio Pedrini (Poggio Mirteto, though I think he may have moved back to Canterbury)

Jordan
Anas Zara (Al-Salt)*

Malta
Brendan Schneider (Zurrieq)

Philippines
Anton Ganas (Aguilas)

Qatar
Yamaan Jarrar (Umm Salal)*

Scotland
Ashton Pellow (Cumbernauld Colts)

Sweden
Jesper Sanderson (Gamla Upsala)

Indeed Velez are one of the stronger player development clubs in Argentina.. The club’s youth system ("La Fábrica") has a long history of churning out top-tier professionals and international stars. Notable academy graduates include Diego Simeone, Nicolás Otamendi, and more recent talents like Maximo Parrone.

Although they’re not as strong in developing like River Plate, Argentinos Juniors & Rosario Central, they’re good at bringing players into the first team. 

Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield is one of the most successful clubs in Argentina. They have won 15 trophies in the last 30 years: 10 league titles and 5 international cups.… they’re considered a medium level club in terms of fans, from the lower-middle class of society usually.

Have updated the list on the original post to include names mentioned in this thread. I have also updated based on what I have received from my contacts in the game - These include from agents and coaches - as well as my own further research.

I have taken some liberty with the Auckland guys as well given they have yet to be formally announced. I've also made changes based on last club locations as well as social media posts identifying a players current location.

Updates this round.
Australia
Aidan Adams - Western United (U23's)
John Woldegiorgis - Western United (U23's)
Jacob Buchanan - Western United (U18's)
Amanuel Woldegiorgis - Melbourne Knights (U23's)
Harry Casci - Northcote City
Zander Guy - Dandenong City*
Ryan Feutz - Bankstown Lions

New Zealand
Oli Sail - Auckland FC
Ronan Wynne - Auckland FC
Isa Prins - Auckland FC
Bailey Ferguson - Auckland FC*

Portugal
Alejandro Stolberg (CF Unidos)*

Cambodia
Aarun Lim (Boeung Ket)*
Ashnarvy Mustapha (Boeung Ket)*

Italy
Alessandro Scimia - San Gregorio
Luca Scimia - L'Aquila 1927

Jordan
Anas Zara - Al-Salt*

Philippines
Anton Ganas - Aguilas

Qatar
Yamaan Jarrar (Umm Salal)*

Scotland
Ashton Pellow - Carluke Rovers

United States of America
Brendan Schneider - Tampa Bay Rowdies (U20's)

Poland
Zhubin Rahbarian - MLKS Unia Gniewkowo 1933*

Spain
Ruben Dray - UD Puçol*

The last two entries for Zhubin and Ruben are provisional as that is where they played club football for the 25/26 seasons - low levels, but they are both 20 year old goalkeepers trying to make it in the game.

Sorry to mrsmiis as well - Jesper Sanderson doesn't make the cut as he no longer appears in the publicly accessible svenskfotboll player database search.

An extra for your list in Australia:
Lewis Miccio - St George City

Updated to amend/include the following

Alex Paulsen - Motherwell (on loan from AFC Bournemouth)
 
Lawton Green - Alloa FC 

Jack Perniskie - MK Dons (Development)

Nathan Garrow - Stellenbosch FC

Sarpreet Singh - SC Farense

Lewis Miccio - St George City*

Recent changes

New Zealand
Henry Gray - Wellington Phoenix (on loan from Ipswich Town)
Van Fitzharris - Auckland FC (new entrant)

Spain
Ruben Dray - Unión Deportiva Vall de Uxó (moving up a tier from UD Puçol)

Isa Prins and Bailey Ferguson were already included in my initial list.
 

Recent changes

Australia
Ethan Dyer - Sydney FC (scholarship terms)

New Zealand
Joe Knowles - Auckland FC 
Aaron Cartwright - Auckland FC (moves from Melbourne City's NPL setup)

England
Luke Supyk - Gateshead FC (returns after being a free agent)

Wales
Elijah Just - Swansea City (moves from Motherwell FC - Scotland)

Took a few passes with Claude to add some datapoints (couldn't find all - also not entirely fact-checked), including Age, Opta Club / League rankings of the clubs players are signed with.

There's a static page here, sorted by the current Opta League rankings (oddly the ECL has recently dropped to 10). But encouraging to see 16 NZ eligible players signed to clubs in top 10 leagues (hopefully more before the transfer window closes).

(Downloadable CSV for the nerds)

To be fair, those opta rankings look quite untrustworthy. No way is the Croatian league better than the Eredivisie.

The Argentine league has also fallen off recently, no way is it better than than the Championship.

But great work! I was actually working on a spreadsheet for it too but you’ve saved me a lot of time.