Wellington Phoenix confirm the signing of English Striker, David Ball on a two-year contract after arriving in Wellington earlier this week.
The 29-year old striker comes from English Football League Championship side, Rotherham United, having spent the 2018/19 season on loan, scoring seven goals in 42 appearances at Bradford City in League One of the EFL.
The striker has scored 83 goals in 373 appearances in the English Football League over a ten-year period, including helping Rotherham to promotion in the 2017/18 season.
Having progressed through the Manchester City Youth Academy, he made one appearance for the first team bench in the 2009/10 Premier League campaign before heading to Swindon Town on loan.
In January of 2011, Ball signed for League One side Peterborough United where he scored five goals in 21 appearances for Darren Ferguson’s side. The striker helped his side challenge and secure promotion into the Championship with victory over Huddersfield Town.
After two separate loan spells at Rochdale, Ball signed for newly promoted League Two side Fleetwood Town on a three-year deal where the six-foot striker scored 49 goals in 179 appearances, helping them gain promotion to League One in the 2014 play-off final.
Ball created history in March 2015 when he scored a FIFA Puskás nominated goal with his chip against Preston North End, making him only the second Englishman to have been nominated for the esteemed award, behind Wayne Rooney.
Head Coach, Ufuk Talay is happy to have secured Ball’s services after a thorough search for a number nine.
“David is vastly experienced and having played in the EFL for a long period, brings in the qualities we are looking for in a front man.
“He has proven to be a goal scoring threat wherever he has played, and we are looking forward to him continuing that in the Hyundai A-League.”
Ball says he has always wanted to play football abroad and can’t wait to start training as soon as possible and proving his worth and fighting hard for the team.
“I have always enjoyed watching overseas leagues and the Hyundai A-League is a competition that gets stronger with each year.
“The coach has big plans for the team over the next couple of years so I’m looking forward to calling this my home and meeting the supporters.
“I am very competitive and want to win every game so I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Ball will join his team mates this week as pre-season preparations continue.
At A Glance
2009-11 Manchester City – Coach: Roberto Mancini
2010-11 Swindon Town (loan) – 18 Appearances | 2 Goals | Coach: Danny Wilson
2011-12 Peterborough United – 41 Appearances | 9 Goals | Coach: Darren Ferguson
2011-12 Rochdale – (loan) 7 Appearances | 3 Goals | Coach: Steve Eyre
2012-17 Fleetwood Town – 179 Appearances | 49 Goals | Coaches: Micky Mellon, Graham Alexander, Uwe Rösler
2017-19 Rotherham – 34 Appearances | 9 Goals | Coaches: Paul Warne
2018-19 Bradford City (loan) – 42 Appearances | 7 Goals | Coaches: Gary Bowyer
