Manaia Elliott has been upgraded to a full contract with the Wellington Phoenix for the remainder of the 2023-24 Liberty A-League, and beyond.
The young winger has made 12 appearances for the Phoenix in her maiden A-League season, and memorably scored and assisted in Wellington’s 3-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in round two in October.
Elliott signed a three-year contract with the Phoenix in August, with the first two years on scholarship terms.
She was automatically upgraded to a full contract for the remainder of this season when she made her 11th appearance for the Nix in the 2-0 win over Canberra United last month.
In recognition of her performances the club has also promoted Elliott to a fulltime deal for the 2024-25 A-League.
Manaia Elliott has already been recognised by the national teams, at all levels.
Elliott captained the Young Football Ferns at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, and led New Zealand to an eighth OFC U-19 Women’s Championship title last year before being called up to the Football Ferns for their internationals in Colombia in December.
She is expected to be a key member of the New Zealand side at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France in August.
