Talented goalkeeper Dublin Boon has joined the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year scholarship deal.
Boon, 19, grew up in Canterbury and played his junior football at Nomads United and Christchurch United before graduating to the Nomads first team.
He spent last season with Roda JC in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano believes Boon will complement fellow ‘keepers Josh Oluwayemi and Alby Kelly-Heald.
“Dubs is a good young keeper with plenty of potential,” Italiano said. “We need him in the environment to see how he develops, but it’s promising.
“He’s a good kid, well-mannered, and takes on board a lot of the ideas from the games we’ve played so far.
“He’s developed game-to-game. I think he’ll be healthy competition for Alby and Josh.”
Dublin Boon is excited to have secured a scholarship deal with the Nix so soon after returning home from Europe.
“It’s my first professional contract, so I’m pretty happy,” Boon said.
“I came back to New Zealand a month or two ago after the Phoenix contacted me, and then they offered me a contract.
“I’m looking forward to working with the boys for the season, and I think I can learn a lot here.
“We obviously had a very good season last year, making the semi-finals, so hopefully we can do that again.”
He sees the move as a great chance to continue developing as a ball-playing goalkeeper.
“I think I can play that type of football quite well. It’s a part of my game that I’m used to.
“Ultimately, I just want to learn as much as I can and develop to see where I go.
“We’ll see what happens over the year. I believe if I keep consistent, keep disciplined, I can show myself as best as I can.”
An “unreal” spell in European football has prepared Dublin Boon well for his time in Wellington.
“I did a football camp in 2022 in Melbourne. Through that there were some international scouts and coaches from clubs like Dutch champions PSV and OH Leuven in Belgium.
“They showed some interest so I decided to head over at the beginning of 2023 to do some trials.
“I joined Roda JC, and I was playing with their U21s and training with the first team.
“They were really welcoming and it was good to learn more. I enjoyed it a lot over there.”
Boon is also set up for the off-field transition.
“When I moved over to Europe at the start it was a bit harder, getting used to the different culture and living by myself for the first time.
“Obviously it would be nice to be with my family, but I’m comfortable living by myself now.
“I think I’ve gotten used to it a lot quicker than I thought I would.”
Dublin Boon is the 21st contracted player in the Phoenix men’s squad for the upcoming Isuzu UTE A-League season.
