Young Kiwis Outside the UK

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25 Feb 23:06 · edited 25 Feb 23:24 · History

Another young Kiwi in Croatia - 16y/o Oliver Edwards, who sat on the bench for Eastern Suburbs this past Northern League season, has joined top-flight side Šibenik (10th of 10, below Ukich's Istra in 8th).

After moving from Suburbs, Edwards spend the end of 2024 playing for the youth teams of affiliate club Slaven Trogir in the 2.NL Kadeti (second tier of what I believe is U17 football?) and he absolutely killed it. Eleven goals in eight games, including four in a 6-2 drubbing of Vodice. Earned a move to Šibenik this month.

Son of a Croatian mother (hence his ability to move overseas for football before 18) and former Suburbs head coach Hoani Edwards.

Looks like a really technical young forward, good size, left-footed. One to keep an eye on I reckon

(51) Oliver Edwards NK Slaven Trogir Kadeti - YouTube

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27 Feb 01:01

Troy Putt with a couple of offers on the table.

An Auckland FC scholarship deal, and what sounds like a deal to Minnesota United FC 2 in the MLS Next Pro.

He was over there no more than a month ago on trial with the setup in Minnesota.

He's the one on the right hand side of the picture with the bib.

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27 Feb 03:03

I get a bit confused by the deals being offered by Auckland FC. Are you saying that he has a scholarship deal like Gillion, Toomey, Coulibaly, Mckinley, Middleton etc so a professional contract or he has been offered a position in their Reserve Team like Phoenix, Rutherford etc

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27 Feb 03:27 · edited 27 Feb 03:34 · History

He was originally supposed to be listed in the Auckland FC Reserves that was officially named the other week. That squad will also feature players that you've mentioned + guys coming back from injury etc just like the Nix use their reserves side for players in similar situations.

When the Reserves squad was initially released (I was told prior to release that he was in it) he'd only just arrived back in NZ after trialling in the USA with Minnesota.

Apparently he has since been offered scholarship terms with the club (which would see him playing for the reserves in the Northern League + National League anyway) but that ship might have already sailed because it sounds as though Minnesota are leading the race on that front (+ it will be better for his development overall - that's just my personal opinion though).

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30 Apr 01:46

Couple of updates.

Victor Barbosa has signed with RWD Molenbeek in Belgium, with an official announcement expected soon. He was formerly with Auckland United, as well as an NZ U-17 rep. He initially went to Belgium earlier this year to trial with the Belgian club, who then subsequently sent him to Olympique Lyon in France for a trial (they are partner clubs) before coming back recently and agreeing terms in Belgium.

Second update - Kalani and Makaha Gall are approaching the end of their trial periods with with Czech 1.Liga club Dukla Praha, and should know within a couple of weeks whether they have been successful in picking up contracts with the club.

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30 Apr 02:28 · edited 30 Apr 02:28 · History

Nice work YH.

Barbosa is 17, so presumably will be a youth deal.
RWD Molenbeek (RWDM) play in the Belgian 2nd tier - Challenger Pro League.
They finished 3rd this season, and were knocked out of the promotion playoff semis.

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09 May 07:30

Soccerway has an 18yo midfielder named Lennard Wurster as eligible for NZ.
https://int.soccerway.com/players/lennard-wurster/1037144/

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09 May 23:08 · edited 09 May 23:11 · History

Rusty Dunks

Soccerway has an 18yo midfielder named Lennard Wurster as eligible for NZ.
https://int.soccerway.com/players/lennard-wurster/1037144/

NZ citizenship through his step-grandfather? I didn't think you could get NZ citizenship that way. Seems a stretch, but hey what would I know?

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20 May 07:17

Not sure if he is on the list yet?

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20 May 07:23

Yeah he played for the 16's/17's in the OFC qualifiers last year.

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02 Jul 01:07 · edited 02 Jul 01:34 · History

Update on 16 y/o Oliver Edwards over in Croatia - after the step up in league to top-tier Šibenik, he's continued to kill it. Earned a promotion to Šibenik's U19 squad last month, scoring a goal in the national U19 league. Would be shocked if he's not a core part of youth NZ squads going forward.

Unfortunately, bad news for Šibenik themselves - they finished 10th and last in the Croatian HNL (Stipe Ukich's Istra finishing 6th), and have been administratively relegated to the fourth tier for 25/26 amidst a glut of financial issues. Edwards' next move remains to be seen.

In other news, Kian Donkers has unfortunately failed to stick in the Netherlands - he's returned to NZ with Birkenhead.

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02 Jul 07:07

Anyone know how Riley Peach is doing at Elche?

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02 Jul 10:11

Friar Tuck

Anyone know how Riley Peach is doing at Elche?

No appearances for Elche teams so far - likely will get rolling once the new season starts.

However, I did find that Peach made his first matchday squad appearance for Club Costa City in February - riding the pine watching guys like ex-Rangers and Valencia midfielder Aarón Ñíguez and ex-Real Madrid winger Óscar Díaz turn out for his club in the Spanish 8th tier

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10 Aug 11:12

19-year-old New Zealand defender Leo Hall joined SK Sokol Brozany, currently 17th in the Czech Football League’s third tier. https://www.transfermarkt.com/leo-hall/profil/spieler/994789

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14 Sep 03:50

Hutcho137

19-year-old New Zealand defender Leo Hall joined SK Sokol Brozany, currently 17th in the Czech Football League’s third tier. https://www.transfermarkt.com/leo-hall/profil/spieler/994789

Just dropping in having done a bit of reading up on his time there and how he's been getting on. Seems to he getting good game time in a side that's been struggling.

They line up against Slavia Prague next week in the Czech League Cup too - Last seasons Czech First League Champions, and 25/26 UCL group stage entrants at that as well.

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18 Sep 23:26

Taken from the Southern League thread.

https://www.facebook.com/christchurchunitedfc/
Christchurch United FC
Good luck, Waisea!

CUFC Academy graduate and first team player Waisea Henry (18) is heading to Spain to play for EF Huesca, an academy side that competes in Juvenile A, the top Under 19 division in northeast Spain, facing the likes of SD Huesca and Real Zaragoza!

You've got this, Wais

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24 Sep 00:21

All 3 kids play for Ngongotaha FC in the Lotto NRFL Southern Conference.
Good luck to them.

Wai-BOP area has a decent history of producing Chilean heritage AMs!

https://www.friendsoffootballnz.com/2025/09/24/talented-trio-from-rotorua-heading-abroad-for-international-opportunities/

Three young players from Rotorua are chasing international opportunities in their dreams to forge professional careers.

Ngongotaha players Mel Cropp, George Deane, and Amaro Gonzalez Diaz are looking abroad for the next step in their development pathways.

Midfielder Mel Cropp, a first-team player with the Ngongotaha club and a New Zealand Māori representative, has advanced to the second phase of a significant international trial opportunity.

His campaign began with a three-day assessment in Dallas, Texas, where his performances earned selection for an upcoming European showcase.

Cropp will travel to Sweden and Denmark as part of a final squad that will play four competitive fixtures against strong opposition. The tour includes twice-daily training sessions under professional coaches, creating opportunities for growth and exposure to elite football standards.

Among clubs monitoring the tour is Danish Superliga side Silkeborg IF, where All Whites forward Callum McCowatt plays.

Goalkeeper George Deane (16), another Ngongotaha first team regular, is currently completing Year 13 at Rotorua Boys’ High School.

He recently signed with Number One Sports Management NZ, who have helped him take up an invitation to the Arnstadt Football Academy in Germany for a three-month training placement.

The German academy is highly regarded for its elite-level coaching, technical development, and connections to professional clubs across the region.

Deane is targeting international honours, specifically pushing for selection for New Zealand’s squad at the FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar in November.

Attacking midfielder Amaro Gonzalez Diaz (17), who also plays for Ngongotaha in the Lotto NRFL Southern Conference, is originally from Chile, where his father played at a high level.

Now completing his final year at Lakes High School, Gonzalez Diaz will also spend three months at the Arnstadt academy.

Both Deane and Gonzalez Diaz are fundraising to cover the costs involved in travelling and training in Germany.

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17 Nov 23:34 · edited 17 Nov 23:35 · History

Update on Leo Hall, he has made nine starts this season and again featured yesterday in a 80min performance, as SK Sokol Brozany sit just one point clear of the relegation zone.

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19 Dec 22:37 · edited 19 Dec 22:46 · History

21 y/o ex-Manurewa, Takapuna and Suburbs keeper Vadym Patkevych is firmly first choice at CSC 03 Kassel in Germany's fifth tier. 16 games so far this season. 10 games for Manurewa in this year's Northern League before heading over

Some highlights here against Eintracht Frankfurt's reserves

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07 Mar 20:57

Doesn't qualify for his own thread, but Jacob Kleinsmith (2008) has signed for FC Elva over in the Estonian 2nd tier Esiliiga.

Formerly of Tauranga City AFC, and more recently involved with the Wellington Phoenix Academy setup, the midfielder made his debut for his new team overnight after starting in a 1-1 draw to kick off the season at FC Tallinn.

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