The Wellington Phoenix have made a major splash with their first men’s signing for the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League.
The Phoenix have signed Nigerian striker Ifeanyi Eze to lead the men’s attack in the upcoming season.
Eze, 26, is coming off a standout campaign for Al-Karkh SC in the Iraq Stars League, where he scored 15 goals and provided five assists for a team that finished 14th.
Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano has hailed Eze as a fantastic signing for the club.
“He has all of the attributes I was looking for in an attacker,” Italiano said. “He can score goals, he’s very fast, he can dribble at pace and his intention is to always go forward.
“Eze’s got this nice instinct where as soon as he gets around the 18-yard box he’s looking to shoot or create. He can also link quite well.
“And the most important thing for me is he’s a really, really good person.”
He believes Eze’s goals in the Iraq Stars League can translate to the A-League.
“The leagues are very similar in terms of rankings in Asia.
“The Iraqi league is a little bit more transitional and a bit different to the A-League, but the fact that he scored 15 goals and had five assists in a team that was down the bottom is very impressive.
“And stylistically he suits the way I want to play.”
Ifeanyi Eze will join the Phoenix once he obtains his New Zealand work visa and he can’t wait to meet his new teammates.
“The earlier I get to Wellington the better,” Eze said.
“I hope everything goes fast and smoothly so I can join the team for the pre-season and start to play.
“Getting to know everyone, the tactics, my teammates and how they play will be very helpful to me.”
The left-footed striker is also determined to prove himself to the club’s supporters.
“One thing that I can assure the fans is that they’re going to see a hard worker.
“They’re going to see someone who is dedicated to give the best for the team, put in everything he’s got and is open to learning more to add to what he’s got to give the team the best that he can.
“I know everyone wants a player who can score goals and help the team…but I don’t want to talk too much about that.
“I like doing my talking on the field and they should be ready for Eze!”
Eze will wear the no.7 shirt vacated by Kosta Barbarouses and knows he has big boots to fill replacing a player who scored 13 and 10 goals in the past two seasons.
“I respect him for what he has done at the Wellington Phoenix. It’s not easy to score double figure goals in a season.
“But on the other hand I’m coming to Wellington to do something better as well.
“Everyone has to be optimistic with their career and what they want to achieve.”
The Wellington Phoenix now have 19 men’s players contracted for the 2025-26 season and have filled four of the five visa spots.
