Wellington Phoenix are pleased to announce the re-signing of two players from last season’s squad, Ryan Lowry & Hamish Watson with Academy graduate Sarpreet Singh also penning his first professional contract.
Rising star Singh, in action tonight for New Zealand at the U-20 World Cup, represents the progress made off the field by the Wellington Phoenix Academy staff with Singh becoming just the 6th player to represent the Phoenix in the A-League before their eighteenth birthday when he made his debut in Round 20 this season.
Singh was the inaugural recipient of the Winston Reid scholarship, moving from his home in Auckland where he had come through the Wellington Phoenix Soccer Schools program since he was eight years old.
The talented central midfielder made two appearances in the A-League, as well as 14 in the Stirling Sports Premiership this season and his signing for the next three seasons affirms the club’s ongoing commitment to developing and retaining New Zealand’s best and brightest talent.
23-year-old Lowry joined the club from Western Australia on a one-year contract, and after 14 appearance for the first team and Stirling Sports Premiership squad has earned an extension for another two seasons.
Lowry recently captained a Phoenix development squad at the Hong Kong Citi Soccer Sevens, beating Kashima Antlers and several local sides before succumbing to Bayer Leverkusen in the Plate final.
24-year-old Lower Hutt-raised Watson is in his second spell with Phoenix after a brief stint in England, with the burly striker grabbing five goals in 29 appearances since his return to the club.
A powerful front-third option, Watson has also earned a two-year extension.
Wellington Phoenix’s new head coach, set to be presented in Wellington next week, has been involved in the recruitment process, with more signings and re-signings set to be announced in coming weeks.
