The Wellington Phoenix have handed academy standout Ben Trenberth his first professional contract.
Trenberth, 16, has signed a three-year deal with the club, the first two of which are on scholarship terms.
It’s been a rapid rise for the attacking midfielder, who joined the academy at the beginning of 2024 from Petone FC and progressed through the age-group sides to become a key member of the men’s reserves this year.
He was also amongst the first intake of students to the New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, the charter school associated with the Phoenix, which has given him the flexibility to be able to participate in both reserves and first team training alongside his studies.
Trenberth is now the first student from the school to sign a professional deal with the Nix.
Head coach Chris Greenacre believes Trenberth has earned his shot at the next level.
“For him, it’s the next step on his journey,” he said. “It’s probably arrived quicker than he thought, but a very proud moment for him and his family.
“He’s a young player with a high ceiling, he’s been in and around the first team for a couple of months, and has really shown the skillset to fit into what we want to do.
“The players around him and what we’re nurturing here, it’s a lot of players who have come through the academy system and understand Ben’s trajectory, what that feels like.
“It’s the perfect tonic of people around while he integrates himself into the first team.”
Just 15 months ago, Trenberth was playing in the Christchurch International Cup with the Phoenix U-15s, where he won the tournament MVP.
“He was playing Christchurch not long ago, and now to be getting a full time contract, it’s been quite a trajectory.
“It’s also the work that’s gone on before the academy, with Petone FC first. It’s great when local clubs are recommending players to come into our academy.
“Ben’s one of those players that when you lift the bar, it just takes him a little bit of time to find where the level is and then he meets that level.”
And the signing speaks to the academy pathway at the Nix.
“The quality that we’ve got within our academy system, the coaches down there, the work that’s being done down there is very very good. Ben’s the next cab off the rank.
“We’ve always said we’re a club that’s looking to develop local players through our academy.
“We’ve shown on more than one occasion that we’ve got the right strategy, we’re the right place to bring young players too.
“This is a vision from the board as well, allowing us to nurture players like this.”
Ben Trenberth is over the moon to have signed on as a pro.
“It’s an unreal feeling,” he said. “It’s been my childhood dream growing up, so to accomplish that is unreal.
“I got emailed to come to the office with Greeny [Greenacre] and Gilly [director of football Shaun Gill]. I saw the contract on the table, we went over it, and it was unbelievable.
“My parents, family and friends have all helped me along the way and I don’t think I would be there without them.”
His experience through the different levels of the academy, as well as representing New Zealand up to U-17 level, has set him up well for this moment.
“Playing in the academy from the start of the U-15s, as well as attending the school. has really helped me develop and improve my skills.
“The New Zealand tours, I was in Japan recently and Papua New Guinea earlier this year with the U-17s, it’s also helped me a lot. Playing different styles of football from club to international.
“This season I want to make my debut, especially in front of the home crowd, the Yellow Fever. That would be unreal. Maybe even get a goal too!”.
Ben Trenberth is the 22nd player contracted for the upcoming A-League Men’s season, which will commence against Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium on Sunday, October 18.
