Dan Edwards

Dan Edwards signed his maiden professional contract with the Wellington Phoenix in September after playing semi-professionally in Melbourne for the past five seasons.

The left-sided fullback joined the Phoenix from Avondale FC, who were National Premier Leagues (NPL) Victoria premiers in 2025 and reached the semi-finals of the Australia Cup.

Edwards grew up on the Whangaparāoa peninsula north of Auckland and played his junior football at Hibiscus Coast, Forrest Hill Milford and Birkenhead United before heading to Marshall University in West Virginia in 2017.

He played three years for the Thundering Herd and studied accounting before the Covid pandemic cut short his time in the U.S.A.

After a short stint with Eastern Suburbs in Auckland, Edwards moved to Melbourne in 2021 and has played for Port Melbourne and Avondale FC since while working in freight forwarding.

> 2024-25 season

Dan Edwards joined Avondale FC in July 2024 and went on to make 31 appearances for the club, 25 of which came this year.

Edwards showcased his versatility for the NPL heavyweights, playing at both left back and centre back.

He’d all but given up on playing football professionally before hearing about the interest from the Phoenix.

“It wasn’t at the forefront of where I was in life. I was at the point where I needed to start looking at trying to get a house or getting a unit somewhere and then the second you get a call and you’re told there’s a chance it’s right back at the front of mind again.

“Being 27 and quitting your fulltime job to become a fulltime footy player is special.

“It’s something you dream about since you’re five or six-years-old. It’s crazy to think that at 27 now I get the chance to live that.”